If you are eligible for Social Security disability benefits or SSDI, the payment you receive each month is based on your average lifetime income earnings before your disability started. And the amount of monthly benefits that you receive is not based on the type of disability you have or how much money you currently have in the bank. Most people who are awarded benefits receive anywhere from $800 to $1,800 per month. But if you are receiving disability payments from other sources, your payments could be reduced. Keep reading to learn more about SSDI payments in Georgia.
Applying for Social Security Disability Insurance in Georgia
Georgia residents can apply for SSDI benefits through their local Social Security Administration (SSA) offices. The Social Security Administration has two programs available that are designed to provide disability payments for individuals who have been disabled and are no longer able to work and support themselves or their families. These two programs are Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income or SSI. And while some states may have other programs available, Georgia doesn’t offer short-term disability benefits.
Georgia State Disability Benefits
Social Security disability insurance requires that applicants have worked and paid into Social Security for a certain period of time to be eligible to receive payments. This differs from SSI, which is based on limited income and resources and provides benefits for those who are disabled and cannot work. Currently, the average SSDI payment is $1,258 and the maximum monthly payment you can receive from this program in 2020 is $3,011 for those who file at full retirement age—66 years and 2 months.
How is SSDI Calculated in Georgia?
For individuals who are eligible for SSDI benefits, the payment amount you receive each month is based on your average lifetime earnings before your disability developed. In order to count towards the amount of SSDI benefits you will receive, your previous lifetime earnings must be covered under the Social Security program. “Covered earnings” are wages that you received from any job that paid into Social Security. If you have ever gotten a paycheck that had a portion of your wages withheld for FICA or other Social Security taxes, that money counts as covered earnings and will likely go towards determining your final benefit amount. While there may be a few exceptions, most of your previous wages should be counted as covered earnings.
Your Social security disability benefits are based on your average covered earnings that were earned over a certain period of time. This time frame is referred to as the average indexed monthly earnings or AIME. Once this number has been determined, a formula is used to calculate your primary insurance amount or PIA—this is the basic figure that the Social Security Administration uses to calculate your entitled benefit amount.
It is possible to access your entire earnings history by checking your annual Social Security Statement. The Social Security Administration makes it very easy to access this and other important information on its website. All you need to do to check your statement is to log on to my Social Security. They have also provided a number of handy benefits calculators, that makes it super easy to get an estimate of your disability payments—should you be approved for SSDI. Additionally, you can call your local Social Security office and ask them to provide you with an estimate of your benefit payout.
Getting Disability Help in Georgia
Interested in learning more about the SSDI claims process? Call (404) 618-4816 or contact the friendly Social Security attorneys as Joel Thrift Law today to schedule a free initial consultation.