When trying to figure out your benefits and what will affect them, it can make your head spin. There are so many rules that can confuse someone who is trying to calculate how much their benefits might be. It is important to know how your current benefits and income can influence the amount you will receive in disability aid. Two types of disability benefits will be discussed in this article, along with what can affect them.
Social Security Disability Insurance
The first disability benefit is Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI. This benefit is issued by a United States government agency called the Social Security Administration or SSA. Your SSDI benefit is determined by your average indexed monthly earnings or AIME. AIME is also known as your covered earnings, which is the amount you paid in Social Security taxes.
Social Security Disability Insurance is not based on your amount of income, but your average income before the time of your disability. It is also affected by any other benefits you may be receiving. If you receive private disability benefits, you will not be affected. However, any current government issued benefits will modify the amount you get in SSDI benefits.
Temporary benefits issued by the state or worker’s compensation are examples of benefits that will influence the amount you get in SSDI. If you receive more than 80 percent of the average amount you had earned before your disability, your SSDI benefit will be reduced.
Supplemental Security Income
Another kind of disability benefit you can receive is Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Under SSI, a monthly check is issued to the disabled person who has not worked enough to qualify for SSDI or has never worked.
To qualify for SSI, you must live in a household where the income falls under a certain number. Your eligibility is based on very strict limits placed by the SSI program that is determined by the Federal Benefit Rate, or FBR. The FBR is both the income limit and the maximum federal monthly payment. Additionally, there is a countable monthly income that cannot surpass the FBR to receive SSI benefits.
There are many aspects of your income and current benefits that will affect any disability aid you may receive later. If you are having trouble understanding the many different components that can modify your benefits, you may want to contact a professional who can help guide you through the process of obtaining your benefits.
