Step 1: Understand Your Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME)

The SSA calculates benefits using:

• Your earnings over your working years, adjusted for inflation.
• Highest 35 years of earnings are used to find your AIME.
• Years without earnings will lower your average and benefits.

Step 2: Calculate Your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA)

Your monthly benefit is based on:

• Applying a formula to your AIME that uses bend points set by SSA.
• These bend points determine how much of your earnings are replaced.
• The PIA reflects your base SSDI payment.

Step 3: Consider Family Benefits

Your payment might increase if you have:

• Dependents such as a spouse or children.
• SSA allows additional monthly amounts for eligible family members.
• Total family benefits cannot exceed a set maximum family amount.

Step 4: Account for Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA)

SSA updates benefits annually based on:

• Inflation rates and economic factors.
• COLA increases help benefits keep pace with rising living costs.
• This can raise your monthly SSDI amount each year.

Step 5: Know the Maximum and Minimum Benefit Limits

Your benefit has limits depending on:

• The SSA maximum monthly amount payable for SSDI in a given year.
• Minimum disability benefit amounts may apply based on work credits.

Step 6: Additional Adjustments

Other factors might affect your SSDI benefit:

• Off-set rules if you receive other government benefits.
• Reductions if you return to work above certain earnings limits.