How much a person with a disability receives as a monthly Social Security payment depends on the program. The Social Security Administration manages the Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income programs.
Both programs pay benefits to individuals who cannot work because of physical or mental limitations from a medical condition expected to last for at least 12 months or to result in death. How much a person receives each month depends on the program and other factors.
The following information explains how disability benefits work and the amount that a person could receive each month. Schedule a disability lawyer consultation for answers to questions and specific information about the benefits you may be entitled to receive through SSDI and SSI.
Social Security Disability benefits
When a person works at a job or through self-employment for a long enough time and pays Social Security taxes on the earnings, they become insured through the Social Security system. This gives them the ability to receive retirement benefits or SSDI benefits when a disabling condition prevents them from continuing to work prior to retirement age.
The SSDI benefit amount awarded to a person depends on their lifetime earnings record with Social Security taxes paid on their earnings or self-employment income. The Social Security tax laws limit the amount of earnings subject to taxation each year, so there is a maximum monthly Social Security benefit generally available to individuals in high-paying occupations who continue working until reaching full retirement age. The 2026 maximum monthly benefit is $4,152, exceeding the 2025 benefit of $4,018.
The average SSDI benefit paid to disabled workers in 2025 is $1,586. The average benefit payment in 2026 is $1,630 based on a cost-of-living adjustment of 2.8%
SSDI family benefits
Relatives of a person entitled to receive SSDI or retirement benefits may apply for family benefits. Family benefits apply to the following relatives of someone with an SSDI or Social Security retirement account:
- Spouse
- Former spouse
- Child
Children must be 17 or younger to receive family benefits. However, children ages 18 to 19 may apply for family benefits provided they are full-time students in primary or secondary school. A child with a disability developed before age 22 may apply for family benefits through a parent’s account.
Supplemental Security Income benefits
The SSI program does not require a work history or an earnings record. Instead, the program provides a maximum monthly federal benefit amount of $967 for individuals and $1,450 for couples in 2025. The federal benefit increases to $994 for individuals and $1,491 for couples in 2026.
Because it is a means-based program intended to assist people in need of a monthly income to pay for food, shelter, clothing, and other essentials, SSI has income and resource restrictions. For instance, resources or assets that a person has available to them may not exceed $2,000 for individuals and $3,000 for couples.
Depending on a person’s monthly income, they may not be approved to receive the maximum federal benefit. However, not all sources of income count.
For example, if you work part-time while receiving SSI disability benefits, you may exclude the first $65 of earned income you receive each month and one-half of the remaining earnings. A $20 exclusion may be applied to income from sources other than working.
Seeking disability advocate help with benefits through the SSI program can be critical to ensure that you get all benefits available to you. For instance, only the following states do not pay a state-funded supplemental benefit:
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Mississippi
- North Dakota
- Tennessee
- West Virginia
Some states that pay a supplemental payment may only do so under specific conditions, so obtaining advice and guidance from a disability advocate can be helpful.
Get more information about disability benefits
Obtaining the disability benefits to which you are entitled can be challenging. Start the process to get assistance by scheduling a consultation with a disability attorney for SSDI or SSI benefits.
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