Through Social Security Disability, individuals who can no longer work as a result of a disability receive benefits from the government. To qualify for disability income, the individual must meet some criteria. For example, before the individual became disabled, they must have worked a job or jobs that qualified for Social Security and must have a condition that currently makes it unable for them to work. A skilled lawyer makes it easy to settle Social Security benefits.
The Social Security Administration has a list of conditions and different stages applicants must pass through before receiving benefits through the program. The benefits gotten in Social Security Disability are taxable in some cases. However, in most cases, they are not. Some states regularly tax Social Security Benefits. If you live in those states, then your Social Security benefits may be taxable.
Also, individuals who earn above the Internal Revenue Service threshold will pay taxes on their Social Security Disability benefits. Generally, individuals who make more than $25,000 per year and are filing separately will pay taxes on their income, while married couples filing jointly will pay taxes on their income if they earn more than $32,000 per year. However, Social Security Disability beneficiaries generally do not earn any income.
How Much Can You Earn Per Month Through Social Security Disability?
The Social Security Disability benefits you can earn each month varies because of some factors. First, your average lifetime earnings before you became disabled affects the benefits you receive each month. For individuals who work and earn income, the government deducts Social Security taxes from their paycheck.
These taxes are paid into the Social Security Disability benefits, and in case the individual becomes disabled, they become entitled to the benefits. So, to calculate the benefits you will receive per month, the government will check how much you paid as Social Security taxes through your income before being disabled.
According to the Social Security Administration, the average monthly payment for Social Security disability benefits in 2020 was $1,259. To determine if you are qualified, the Social Security Administration will consider your work benefits. The work benefits refer to the portion of your income that is deducted to cover Social Security taxes.
To become eligible for Social Security Disability benefits, you must have enough work credits. Working individuals can earn up to four working credits each year. The amount or value of each work credit changes each year. For example, the value of one work credit is about $1,410 in 2020. The amount you can earn per month varies each year. If you receive benefits from other programs, then your Social Security Disability benefits may be less.
As a rule, the benefits you receive per month cannot be more than 80% of what you used to earn before becoming disabled. There are two ways to calculate your monthly benefits; you can calculate through your Social Security account online or through the Benefits Calculator of the Social Security Administration.
Also, to help determine the benefits you are eligible to receive, you can contact a Social Security Disability attorney for help. If you are newly disabled, you will start to receive benefits on the sixth full month after your disability. Also, you may receive back payments in some cases.
What Conditions Qualify for Social Security Disability?
Some conditions may automatically qualify you to receive benefits as they are most severe. These conditions are listed on the Compassionate Allowances list. Individuals who are eligible for this qualify to receive benefits immediately. Examples of these conditions include brain disorders, acute leukemia, pancreatic cancer, gallbladder cancer, small cell lung cancer, stage IV breast cancer, and muscular dystrophy.
The number of conditions listed under the Compassionate Allowances list are over 200. If you have a medical condition on the list, you may qualify for automatic or expedited approval. Some organ transplants may be eligible for automatic benefits for 12 months at least. The Social Security Administration will also consider your income before approving your claim.
Contact a Social Security Disability Attorney
To know if you are eligible to receive Social Security benefits due to your disability, you may need a Social Security attorney’s services to ensure you get the benefits you deserve. Also, if your claim has been denied, you might need help with improving your claim. Contact a Social Security attorney today to get the help you need. At Tabak Law, we have highly qualified, professional attorneys that have handled similar cases for years. You would get a free consultation with one of our expert Lawyers to give you assistance with your case.