When applying for Social Security Disability, many applicants in New Jersey and elsewhere are concerned about whether he or she will be deemed eligible for these benefits. However, some are more concerned about the benefits themselves. Will the amount received be enough to meet his or her basic needs? Getting by without the steady income he or she once had is challenging, but will SSD benefits be enough?
Based on current reports, roughly 10 million individuals across the U.S. receive SSD benefits. The amount received each month is used to cover the cost of necessities while he or she is unable to work because of a disabling injury or condition. But for those not currently disabled, they may question how much they will receive if they were suddenly injured or suffered an illness that warranted them disabled.
The Social Security Administration has a set standard that they use when calculating disability benefits. This is the amount the SSA deems appropriate to provide to recipients and their families while they remain eligible for SSD benefits.
In order to obtain disability benefits under Social Security, one needs to meet work tests. This means that they have worked a job that paid into Social Security and worked a certain number of years based on his or her age. Benefits are then calculated by looking at the recipient’s earnings. This is done by averaging the index monthly and running it through three income ranges. The first is to take 90 percent of the first $895. This is followed by adding 32 percent of any amount between $895 and $5,397. Finally, 15 percent of any amount over 5,397 is added.
If you are deemed eligible for disability benefits, sometimes other family members can recover benefits as well. For example, a spouse can get disability if they are 62-years-old or older or if they are caring for a disabled child or a child that is under 16 and receiving Social Security.
Social Security disability benefits can be very vital for individuals and families. It can be the difference between obtaining necessary medical care or not or making ends meet or not. Thus, it is important to explore your options, as it is likely that you will be able to recover SSD benefits by understanding your legal rights.
