{
  "id": "ssdi",
  "version": "a9a0facd7ae0",
  "status": "published",
  "name": "SSDI Calculator",
  "question": "How much SSDI will I get?",
  "summary": "Estimates your monthly Social Security disability (SSDI) benefit from your average indexed monthly earnings, with the family maximum and the 2026 substantial gainful activity limit.",
  "category": "finance",
  "subcategory": "retirement",
  "url": "https://www.acalculator.org/finance/ssdi-calculator",
  "markdown": "https://www.acalculator.org/finance/ssdi-calculator.md",
  "kind": "function",
  "method": "PIA = 90% of AIME to the first bend point + 32% to the second + 15% above, down to the dime; SSDI = PIA down to the dollar; family maximum = min(max(85% of AIME, PIA), 150% of PIA).",
  "assumptions": [
    "SSDI pays the full PIA, with no reduction for age. Bend points are those of the year the disability began; a year after 2026 uses 2026.",
    "Cost-of-living adjustments after the year of disability are not included.",
    "Benefits start after a five-month waiting period; you need enough recent work credits, and SSA must find you disabled.",
    "Other disability payments (workers’ compensation, some public disability benefits) can lower SSDI and are not included."
  ],
  "inputs": {
    "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
    "type": "object",
    "properties": {
      "aime": {
        "title": "Average indexed monthly earnings",
        "description": "Your AIME: your indexed earnings over your working years (fewer years for a younger worker), divided by the number of months.",
        "type": "number",
        "x-unit": "USD",
        "minimum": 0,
        "maximum": 100000
      },
      "year": {
        "title": "Year the disability began",
        "description": "The year you became disabled, which picks the bend points; after 2026, the 2026 bend points.",
        "type": "string",
        "enum": [
          "1979",
          "1980",
          "1981",
          "1982",
          "1983",
          "1984",
          "1985",
          "1986",
          "1987",
          "1988",
          "1989",
          "1990",
          "1991",
          "1992",
          "1993",
          "1994",
          "1995",
          "1996",
          "1997",
          "1998",
          "1999",
          "2000",
          "2001",
          "2002",
          "2003",
          "2004",
          "2005",
          "2006",
          "2007",
          "2008",
          "2009",
          "2010",
          "2011",
          "2012",
          "2013",
          "2014",
          "2015",
          "2016",
          "2017",
          "2018",
          "2019",
          "2020",
          "2021",
          "2022",
          "2023",
          "2024",
          "2025",
          "2026",
          "2027",
          "2028",
          "2029",
          "2030",
          "2031",
          "2032",
          "2033",
          "2034",
          "2035",
          "2036",
          "2037",
          "2038",
          "2039",
          "2040",
          "2041",
          "2042",
          "2043",
          "2044",
          "2045",
          "2046",
          "2047",
          "2048",
          "2049",
          "2050",
          "2051",
          "2052",
          "2053",
          "2054",
          "2055",
          "2056",
          "2057",
          "2058",
          "2059",
          "2060"
        ]
      },
      "blind": {
        "title": "Statutorily blind",
        "description": "Whether you are statutorily blind, which raises the monthly earnings limit (SGA).",
        "type": "boolean"
      },
      "earnings": {
        "title": "Monthly earnings from work",
        "description": "Gross monthly earnings from work, if any, to compare with the substantial gainful activity limit.",
        "type": "number",
        "x-unit": "USD",
        "minimum": 0,
        "maximum": 10000000
      }
    }
  },
  "outputs": {
    "benefit": {
      "label": "Monthly SSDI benefit",
      "description": "The primary insurance amount, rounded down to the dollar.",
      "format": "money"
    },
    "pia": {
      "label": "Primary insurance amount",
      "description": "The PIA from the formula, rounded down to the dime.",
      "format": "money"
    },
    "yearly": {
      "label": "A year",
      "description": "The monthly benefit times 12.",
      "format": "money"
    },
    "familyMax": {
      "label": "Family maximum",
      "description": "The most your family can get a month on your record: the smaller of 85% of AIME (at least the PIA) and 150% of the PIA.",
      "format": "money"
    },
    "sga": {
      "label": "Earnings limit (SGA)",
      "description": "The 2026 monthly substantial gainful activity amount: earnings above it usually mean you are not disabled under SSA rules.",
      "format": "money"
    },
    "work": {
      "label": "Your earnings",
      "description": "Whether your monthly earnings are above the substantial gainful activity limit.",
      "format": "text"
    }
  },
  "defaultAnswer": {
    "inputs": {
      "aime": 4000,
      "year": "2026",
      "blind": false
    },
    "outputs": {
      "benefit": 2025,
      "pia": 2025.8,
      "yearly": 24300,
      "familyMax": 3038.7,
      "sga": 1690
    },
    "text": "With average indexed monthly earnings of $4,000.00, your SSDI benefit is about $2,025.00 a month."
  },
  "examples": [
    {
      "given": {
        "aime": 3000,
        "year": "2026",
        "blind": false
      },
      "expect": {
        "pia": 1705.8,
        "benefit": 1705,
        "familyMax": 2550,
        "sga": 1690
      },
      "source": "SSA PIA formula and 2026 bend points; 42 U.S.C. 403(a)(6); hand calculation in content.mdx: 0.9 × 1,286 + 0.32 × 1,714 = 1,705.88"
    },
    {
      "given": {
        "aime": 1000,
        "year": "2026",
        "blind": true,
        "earnings": 2000
      },
      "expect": {
        "pia": 900,
        "benefit": 900,
        "familyMax": 900,
        "sga": 2830,
        "work": "at or below the SGA limit"
      },
      "source": "hand calculation in content.mdx: 90% of 1,000 = 900; 85% of AIME = 850 is less than the PIA, so the family maximum is the PIA (42 U.S.C. 403(a)(6)); SSA 2026 SGA for the blind $2,830"
    },
    {
      "given": {
        "aime": 9000,
        "year": "2020",
        "blind": false,
        "earnings": 1700
      },
      "expect": {
        "pia": 2890.2,
        "benefit": 2890,
        "familyMax": 4335.3,
        "work": "above the SGA limit"
      },
      "source": "SSA 2020 bend points ($960 and $5,785); hand calculation in content.mdx: 864 + 1,544 + 482.25 = 2,890.25, down to 2,890.20; family maximum 150% of the PIA"
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    "Social Security Administration, Primary Insurance Amount (PIA formula): https://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/piaformula.html",
    "Social Security Administration, Benefit Formula Bend Points: https://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/bendpoints.html",
    "Social Security Administration, Substantial Gainful Activity (2026 amounts): https://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/sga.html",
    "Social Security Act section 203(a)(6), 42 U.S.C. 403(a)(6) (disability family maximum): https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/403"
  ],
  "related": [
    "ssi",
    "social-security",
    "cola"
  ],
  "changelog": []
}