If you’re applying for Social Security Disability (SSDI) or retirement benefits, you might wonder:
“How does Social Security figure out my monthly payment?”
The truth is—not everyone gets the same amount. Your check depends mostly on:
- How much money you earned while working
- When you apply for benefits
At the Law Offices of Eric A. Shore, we help people understand the rules and get the benefits they’ve worked for and deserve.
How SSDI Payments Are Calculated
Social Security Disability (SSDI) is for people who worked, paid into Social Security, and now can’t work due to a disability.
Here’s how your payment is figured out:
- Social Security reviews your average earnings over your working years (called your average indexed monthly earnings).
- Then, they apply a formula to come up with your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA)—which is your monthly benefit.
- The number of years they use depends on your age, but the more you earned—and the more consistently you worked—the higher your check.
Important: In 2025, only earnings up to $176,100 per year count toward your benefit. Anything above that doesn’t increase your check.
Example: If you worked for many years and earned near the maximum taxable amount, your SSDI benefit could be as high as $3,822 per month in 2025. Most people receive less, with the national average around $1,537.
How Retirement Benefits Are Calculated
Retirement benefits are similar, but your age plays a big role in how much you’ll receive.
- If you start at age 62, you’ll receive a reduced amount.
- If you wait until your full retirement age (between 66 and 67), you’ll get the full amount.
- If you wait until age 70, you’ll get the maximum monthly check.
In 2025, here’s the most you could receive:
- At age 62: $2,831/month
- At full retirement age: $4,018/month
- At age 70: $5,108/month
Waiting longer could mean more money each month—but it depends on your needs and health. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer.
What’s a COLA Increase?
Every year, Social Security may raise your payment to keep up with inflation. This is called a Cost-of-Living Adjustment, or COLA.
In 2025, the COLA increase was 3.2%. This helps cover rising costs for food, housing, and daily essentials—even after you’ve started receiving benefits.
Need Help With SSDI? We’ve Got Your Back.
If you’re applying for SSDI—or got denied and don’t know what to do next—we can help.
At the Law Offices of Eric A. Shore, we represent clients nationwide for SSDI, and in Pennsylvania and New Jersey for personal injury, employment law, and veterans disability.
We’ve helped tens of thousands of people through the Social Security process—with clarity, compassion, and results.
Because if you can’t work, you still deserve security and support.
Reach Out Today
Call: 1-800-CANT-WORK
Visit: www.1800CantWork.com
Facebook: facebook.com/1800CantWork
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/eric-a-shore
