When it comes to SSDI, you may be wondering if a family member’s income can impact your benefits. SSDI means Social Security Disability Insurance, and a lot of people depend on that to make a living. If you’re concerned that your family member may be impacting your benefits, keep reading to learn more about it.
How Are SSDI Benefits Calculated
The severity of your disability will not affect the amount of SSDI benefits you receive. The Social Security Administration determines the amount you receive based on your lifetime earnings and the average earnings you had before you became disabled. Your benefit amount will be calculated using your covered earnings. This happens by using your earnings at jobs where your employer took money out of your wages for Social Security or FICA.
Your SSDI monthly benefit is based on your average covered earnings over some time. This is referred to as your average indexed monthly earnings. The SSA uses those amounts in a formula to determine the primary insurance amount. This is the basic amount that’s used to establish your benefit. The average SSDI payments range between $800 and $1,800 per month.
Income That May Reduce Your SSDI Payment
Receiving other government benefits may affect your SSDI benefit. Incomes that may reduce your SSDI benefit include the following:
- Workers’ compensation
- Public disability benefits
- Pension-based work not covered by Social Security, such as government or foreign government pension
Generally, unearned income does not reduce your SSDI benefits. However, the above examples can reduce SSDI benefits because of offset provisions. This is to prevent receiving more than a certain percentage of pre-disability earnings from combined sources.
Family and SSDI
When it comes to a family member’s income and SSDI, your spouse’s or other family members’ income generally does not affect the amount you are entitled to with your SSDI benefits. However, even though your SSDI benefits are not affected by your family’s income, eligible family members may receive auxiliary benefits. Family members who may qualify for those would be your spouse or children. Auxiliary benefits are separate from your benefits and don’t reduce them at all. Taking a deeper look into auxiliary benefits, you will realize how they work hand in hand with SSDI benefits.
Auxiliary Benefits
Auxiliary benefits are also known as family benefits. The SSA pays auxiliary benefits in addition to SSDI or other disability benefits, not in place of them. These benefits are paid to immediate family members of the SSDI recipients to increase the family’s total monthly income. However, just because you have SSDI doesn’t mean you are automatically entitled to auxiliary benefits. Your spouse or children must apply for family benefits to get them. Auxiliary benefits can amount to 50% for an individual family member, but are subject to a “family maximum” which is usually 150-185% of the primary beneficiary’s PIA. The SSA follows a regular payment schedule for SSDI and auxiliary benefits. This means that once you get approved, you can expect to receive your benefits at the same time each month.
Wondering If Your Family Member’s Income May Affect Your SSDI Benefits?
When it comes to benefits, there are a lot of logistics that go into it, and you may need help sorting them all out so you can get the most out of your benefits. Get in contact with the Tabak Law firm. They will be able to help you navigate your SSDI benefits and explain all the factors revolving around the SSA. It’s best to keep in mind that even though you are a family, your family member’s income doesn’t affect your SSDI benefits.