North Carolina Social Security Disability Lawyers

Social Security Disability Payments Explained

SSDI benefits are earned through payroll tax contributions. Your personal contributions are calculated into credits, and credits are used to calculate eligibility and payment amounts.

Employees can earn up to four credits per year or one credit per quarter. There are three eligibility requirements to collect social security disability:

1. The worker must be disabled for five months before they become financially eligible to receive benefits;
2. Employees must have between 6 and 40 earned credits (depending on age); and
3. The worker needs to have earned at least 20 credits within 40 calendar quarters that ends when the disability began.

If you are eligible for SSDI benefits, there is a five-month waiting period before SSA will start your benefits. SSA will pay your benefit for the sixth full month after the date the agency finds your disability began.

SSDI payments are calculated based on a worker’s previous earnings or the average indexed monthly earnings (AIME): this calculation is an average of the worker’s income throughout their employment history.

Eligible workers receive benefits equal to the primary insurance amount (PIA). PIA is adjusted annually per changes to the national wage average and the consumer price index.

In 2017, the average SSD recipient received $1,171 per month or about $14,000 a year.

Reasons Your Social Security Disability Was Denied

The reasons the Social Security Administration denies claims for SSDI typically vary from one claim to the next. However, there are five major reasons they might issue a denial. These include:

1. Lack of medical evidence – You must submit substantial medical evidence that you have a disability and can’t maintain employment in any type of job. If your doctor’s medical records don’t include information about the specific disability you claim to have, your claim could get denied. You should include a physician’s written statement detailing your disabling condition and why it prevents you from returning to work.
2. Previously denied claim – Many people will resubmit their original claim if they receive a denial letter. The Social Security Administration office will likely look at it and quickly deny it because they’ll see that you already tried to apply before. Instead of resubmitting your application, you should go through the appeals process.
3. Failure to follow treatment plans – Your doctor will refer you for specific treatment you will need for your condition or illness. If you don’t follow their orders, the person reviewing your application will assume your injury isn’t severe. Undergoing medical evaluations and treatment from different doctors provides a record of your conditions and how you manage your symptoms. Without medical records, the Social Security Administration representative won’t be able to confirm the disability you have and how it affects your daily life.
4. Your income – If you’re applying for Supplemental Security Income benefits, you need to earn below a certain amount to qualify. If you earn above the limit or can work full-time, you won’t be able to receive benefits.
5. Failure to cooperate with the Social Security representative – Even if you don’t like the person handling your claim or don’t want to deal with the different steps of the procedure, you should still speak to them regularly and do what they ask. Submit documentation they request, return their calls, and show up for independent medical exams they require you to attend.