Finance calculators

SSDI Calculator

Updated Sep 28, 2026 By Infinity Calculator
Rate Formulas Sources

Your Information

Age: 51  •  Full retirement age: 67

SSDI eligibility requires you to be under your full Social Security retirement age. Individuals born after 1960 have a full retirement age of 67.

You were 46 that year.

Select the year your disability prevented you from working.

Average monthly income: $4,166.67

Enter the average of your annual earnings over the last 10 years before you stopped working. Maximum reflects the Social Security taxable earnings ceiling.

Used to estimate work credits (4 credits per full year).

Compared against the Substantial Gainful Activity limit below.

SSA Schedule Values

SSA revises bend points and the SGA limit every year — edit these if you have a newer schedule.

Estimated Monthly SSDI Benefit

$2,014/month

Based on an AIME of $4,166.67 and the 90% / 32% / 15% bend-point formula

Estimated Annual Benefit

$24,168

Income Replacement Rate

48.3%

Your AIME

$4,166.67

How Your Benefit Was Calculated

Bend-Point Tier Rate AIME in Tier Contribution
Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) $2,014.25
Rounded down to the nearest dollar — Monthly Benefit $2,014

Step-by-Step Solution

Benefit by Bend-Point Tier

Monthly Benefit vs. Annual Income

Benefit at Other Income Levels

Average Annual Income AIME Monthly Benefit Annual Benefit Replacement Rate

Eligibility Snapshot From Your Inputs

    Introduction

    This SSDI calculator estimates how much money you could get each month from Social Security Disability Insurance. Move the sliders for your birth year, the year you stopped working, and your average yearly pay, and the estimate updates as you go.

    Social Security does not pay everyone the same amount. Your payment is based on how much you earned before your disability, not on how sick or hurt you are. Social Security takes your average monthly earnings, called your AIME, and runs it through a three-step formula. You get 90% of the first part, 32% of the middle part, and 15% of the rest.1 Those cut-off points are called bend points. Adding the three parts together gives your Primary Insurance Amount, or PIA. That is your monthly benefit.

    The calculator shows every step, so you can see where each dollar comes from. You also get:

    • Your estimated monthly and yearly SSDI benefit
    • How much of your old income the benefit replaces
    • A quick check on work credits and the SGA earnings limit
    • Charts and a table that compare payments at other income levels

    You can change the bend points and the SGA limit if Social Security updates them. This is an estimate, not an official award letter. For your real numbers, check your Social Security statement at ssa.gov.

    How to use our SSDI Calculator

    Enter your birth year, the year you stopped working, your past income, and your work history. The calculator shows your estimated monthly SSDI benefit, your yearly benefit, your AIME, your income replacement rate, and a step-by-step breakdown of the math.

    Your Birth Year: Slide to the year you were born. This sets your age and your full Social Security retirement age.

    Year You Stopped Working: Slide to the year your disability stopped you from working. This sets the 10-year earnings window used in the estimate.

    Average Annual Income: Slide to your average yearly pay over the last 10 years you worked. This is divided by 12 to get your AIME (average indexed monthly earnings).

    Years You Paid Social Security Tax: Type how many years you worked and paid Social Security tax. You can earn up to 4 work credits a year.4 How many you need depends on your age when your disability began.5

    Current Monthly Earnings: Type how much you earn each month right now. Enter 0 if you do not work. This is checked against the SGA limit.

    First Bend Point: The SSA dollar cutoff for the 90% tier. Change it only if you have a newer SSA schedule.

    Second Bend Point: The SSA dollar cutoff for the 32% tier. Income above this point counts at 15%.

    SGA Limit: The monthly Substantial Gainful Activity limit set by SSA. Earning more than this amount can make you ineligible for SSDI.3

    Press Calculate to see your results, or Reset to start over with the default values.

    What SSDI Is

    SSDI stands for Social Security Disability Insurance. It is a monthly cash payment from the Social Security Administration (SSA) for people who can no longer work because of a serious health problem. It is not welfare. You pay for it with the Social Security taxes taken out of your paycheck, so it works like insurance you already bought.

    Who Can Get SSDI

    To qualify, you usually need to meet four tests:

    • Medical test. Your condition must stop you from doing major work and must last at least 12 months or be expected to end in death.5
    • Work credits. You earn up to 4 credits a year when you work and pay Social Security tax.4 How many you need depends on your age when the disability began, from 1.5 years of work before age 28 to 9.5 years at age 60.5
    • Recent work test. If your disability began at age 31 or later, you generally need 5 years of work in the 10 years before it began.5 Younger workers need less.5
    • Age. You must be under your full retirement age, which is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later.14 Adult disability benefits also start at age 18.

    How Your SSDI Payment Is Figured

    Your check is not based on how sick you are. It is based on how much you earned. SSA takes your past covered earnings and finds your AIME (Average Indexed Monthly Earnings). Then it runs your AIME through a three-step formula to get your PIA (Primary Insurance Amount), which is your monthly benefit.

    The formula pays back a bigger share of low earnings than high earnings:

    • 90% of the first slice of your AIME
    • 32% of the middle slice
    • 15% of anything above the top slice

    The dollar cutoffs between the slices are called bend points.1 SSA sets new bend points every year, so the numbers change.2 The PIA is rounded down to the next lower dime, and the monthly payment to the next lower whole dollar.1

    Working While On SSDI

    SSA uses a limit called Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA). If you earn more than the monthly SGA amount from a job, SSA usually says you are not disabled and you can lose your benefit.3 Blind applicants get a higher limit.3 SSA raises the SGA amount most years.3

    Other Things To Know

    • There is a 5-month waiting period. Your first payment normally covers the sixth full month after your disability start date.5
    • You get Medicare after two years of disability benefits.5
    • Your spouse and children may also get money, but there is a family maximum cap.7
    • SSDI is different from SSI. SSI is based on low income and few assets, not on your work record.10
    • When you reach full retirement age, your SSDI automatically switches to a Social Security retirement check of about the same size.
    • Benefits get a cost-of-living raise (COLA) most years.

    This tool gives an estimate only. For your exact numbers, check your earnings record in your my Social Security account at ssa.gov.

    Formulas used

    Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME)
    \text{AIME} = \frac{\text{Average Annual Income}}{12}
    AIME split across the three bend-point tiers
    \begin{aligned} A_{\text{low}} &= \min(\text{AIME},\, B_{\text{first}}) \\ A_{\text{mid}} &= \left(\min(\text{AIME},\, B_{\text{second}}) - B_{\text{first}}\right)^{+} \\ A_{\text{high}} &= \left(\text{AIME} - B_{\text{second}}\right)^{+} \end{aligned}
    Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) 1
    \text{PIA} = 90\% \times A_{\text{low}} + 32\% \times A_{\text{mid}} + 15\% \times A_{\text{high}}
    Estimated monthly SSDI benefit 1
    B_{\text{monthly}} = \left\lfloor \text{PIA} \right\rfloor
    Estimated annual SSDI benefit
    B_{\text{annual}} = B_{\text{monthly}} \times 12
    Income replacement rate
    R = \frac{B_{\text{monthly}}}{\text{AIME}} \times 100\%
    Work credits needed for your age at onset
    C_{\text{need}} = \max\left(6,\; \min\left(40,\; \text{Age}_{\text{onset}} - 22\right)\right), \quad C_{\text{recent}} = \begin{cases} 6 \text{ in the last 3 years}, & \text{Age}_{\text{onset}} \le 24 \\ 2\left(\text{Age}_{\text{onset}} - 21\right) \text{ since age 21}, & 25 \le \text{Age}_{\text{onset}} \le 30 \\ 20 \text{ in the last 10 years}, & \text{Age}_{\text{onset}} \ge 31 \end{cases}
    Age and Substantial Gainful Activity headroom
    \text{Age} = Y_{\text{current}} - Y_{\text{birth}}, \qquad \text{SGA Headroom} = \max(0,\; \text{SGA} - E_{\text{monthly}})

    Frequently asked questions

    What is the average SSDI payment per month?

    In August 2026, disabled workers received an average of $1,635.90 a month.8 The largest payments go to people who earned at or near the Social Security taxable maximum, which is $184,500 for 2026, for many years.9

    How long does it take to get approved for SSDI?

    Processing an application takes on average about six to eight months.5 About 2 out of 3 first claims are denied. If you appeal and ask for a hearing, the whole process can take 1 to 2 years.

    Some cases move faster. People with certain severe illnesses on the SSA Compassionate Allowances list can be approved in weeks.

    How many work credits do I need for SSDI?

    It depends on your age when the disability began. There are two tests: recent work and total work.5

    • Up to age 24: 1.5 years of work in the 3 years before the disability.5
    • Age 24 to 30: work during half the time since age 21.5
    • Age 31 and up: 5 years of work in the 10 years before the disability.5

    For total work, take the year the disability began and subtract the year you turned 22; that is the number of credits you need, with a minimum of six.5

    How much do you have to earn to get one Social Security work credit?

    In 2026 you earn one credit for every $1,890 in covered earnings.4 You can earn at most 4 credits in a year.4 So $7,560 in 2026 earns all 4. The amount changes each year with the national average wage index.4

    Can I work while receiving SSDI?

    Yes, but there is a limit. If you earn more than the SGA amount, $1,690 a month in 2026 ($2,830 if you are blind), SSA usually decides you are not disabled.3

    SSA also gives you a trial work period. You can work 9 trial months, which do not have to be in a row, and still collect benefits.6 In 2026, any month you earn over $1,210 counts as a trial month.6

    When do SSDI payments start after approval?

    There is a 5-month waiting period. Your first payment covers the sixth full month after your disability start date.5 If SSA finds you were disabled before you applied, you can get back pay for up to 12 months before your application date.

    Is SSDI taxable income?

    It can be. It depends on your total income, including half your SSDI plus any other money you get.

    The base amount is $25,000 if you are single and $32,000 if you are married filing jointly.11

    At most, 85% of your benefits can be taxable.11 Many people on SSDI alone pay no tax at all.

    What is the difference between SSDI and SSI?

    SSDI is based on your work record and the Social Security taxes you paid. There is no limit on your savings.

    SSI is for people with very low income and few assets, even if they never worked. Your resources should not be more than $2,000, or $3,000 for a couple.10 Some people get both.

    Do my spouse and kids get money if I get SSDI?

    Yes, in many cases. Your unmarried children under 18 (under 19 if still in high school), and a spouse caring for your child under 16, may get benefits on your record.5

    There is a family maximum, and SSA uses a special formula for the family of a disabled worker.7 If the family's payments add up to more than that maximum, they are cut to fit.

    Does SSDI stop when I reach retirement age?

    The payment does not stop. At full retirement age your SSDI automatically turns into a Social Security retirement benefit. The dollar amount stays about the same. You do not need to file anything.

    When do I get Medicare with SSDI?

    You get Medicare automatically after you have received disability benefits for two years.5 There is no waiting period for people with ALS or End Stage Renal Disease.5

    Why is my SSDI payment lower than I expected?

    A few common reasons:

    • Years with no earnings count as zero and pull your average down.
    • Only wages you paid Social Security tax on count.
    • The formula pays back only 15% of high earnings, so big salaries do not raise the check much.
    • Workers compensation or a public pension can reduce your check.12

    What are Social Security bend points and why do they matter?

    Bend points are the dollar cutoffs that split your average monthly earnings into three slices. For 2026 they are $1,286 and $7,749.1

    You get 90% of the first slice, 32% of the middle, and 15% of the top.1 This means lower earners get back a much bigger share of their old pay than higher earners. SSA sets new bend points every year.

    Can I get SSDI and a pension at the same time?

    Usually yes. Private pensions and state or local government benefits where Social Security taxes were deducted do not lower your SSDI.12

    The Windfall Elimination Provision, which used to reduce benefits for people with a pension from work not covered by Social Security, has been repealed.13 Workers' compensation and other public disability benefits can still cut SSDI, so that the combined total is not more than 80% of your average current earnings.12

    What health conditions qualify for SSDI?

    SSA keeps a listing of impairments that are severe enough to count on their own.5 Common ones include serious back and joint problems, heart failure, cancer, severe depression or bipolar disorder, diabetes with complications, and neurological diseases like MS or ALS.

    You can still qualify if your condition is not listed. What matters is whether it stops you from doing any real work for at least 12 months.5

    How often does SSA review my disability case?

    SSA does a Continuing Disability Review on a schedule based on how likely you are to get better:

    • Improvement expected: every 6 to 18 months
    • Improvement possible: about every 3 years
    • Improvement not expected: every 5 to 7 years

    Most people keep their benefits after a review.

    Sources

    1. Primary Insurance Amount. Social Security Administration, Office of the Chief Actuary. PIA formula, 2026. Accessed September 27, 2026.
    2. Benefit Formula Bend Points. Social Security Administration, Office of the Chief Actuary. Accessed September 27, 2026.
    3. Substantial Gainful Activity. Social Security Administration, Office of the Chief Actuary. Amounts for 2026. Accessed September 27, 2026.
    4. Quarter of Coverage. Social Security Administration, Office of the Chief Actuary. Latest amount. Accessed September 27, 2026.
    5. Disability Benefits. Social Security Administration. 2026;Publication No. 05-10029, pp. 1-12. Accessed September 27, 2026.
    6. Trial Work Period. Social Security Administration, Office of the Chief Actuary. Accessed September 27, 2026.
    7. Formula for Family Maximum Benefit. Social Security Administration, Office of the Chief Actuary. Accessed September 27, 2026.
    8. Monthly Statistical Snapshot, August 2026. Social Security Administration, Office of Research, Evaluation, and Statistics. 2026;Table 2. Accessed September 27, 2026.
    9. Contribution and Benefit Base. Social Security Administration, Office of the Chief Actuary. Accessed September 27, 2026.
    10. SSI eligibility. Social Security Administration. Accessed September 27, 2026.
    11. Publication 915, Social Security and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits. Internal Revenue Service. Base amount. Accessed September 27, 2026.
    12. How Workers' Compensation and Other Disability Payments May Affect Your Benefits. Social Security Administration. 2026;Publication No. 05-10018. Accessed September 27, 2026.
    13. Social Security Fairness Act: Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) update. Social Security Administration. Accessed September 27, 2026.
    14. Retirement benefits: born in 1960 or later. Social Security Administration. Accessed September 27, 2026.

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