Most people find it difficult to successfully apply for Social Security Disability Income (“SSDI”) due to the complicated nature of the process. But if you believe you are entitled to more than you have been granted, you might have to undergo an even more complicated procedure. So, how can you increase your social security disability benefits?
Your SSDI benefits can be increased by: (1) working 35 years minimum; (2) signing up for spousal benefits; (3) signing up for dependent benefits; (4) monitoring your income; (5) cost of living adjustment, and (6) recalculation of disability benefits.
Keep reading below for more information.
How is SSDI Calculated?
Social Security Disability Insurance payments are based on a person’s lifetime earnings from employment or self-employment. Covered wages are the starting point for the calculation. You paid into Social Security from these earnings. Earnings from occupations for which you did not make contributions to the Social Security system do not factor into the calculation of your Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. This is an important factor because SSDI benefits are based in part on your average lifetime earnings.
Your best pre-disability earnings (known as Average Covered Earnings) are included in the SSDI formula. However, there is a yearly cap on income. You can use one of the Social Security Administration’s benefits calculators to get an idea of what the amount you receive should be, or you can hire an SSDI lawyer to do the calculation for you based on your past wages.
When Can You Start Getting SSDI Benefits?
It is recommended to apply for SSDI through the SSA as soon as possible once you become disabled. Delaying the application too long can cause you to miss out on back pay.
Here are some topics that relate to the amount and timing of your initial SSDI award: Waiting Period
SSDI benefits begin on the first day of the month following a five-month waiting period after your onset date of disability. For instance, if your onset date of disability was January 10, 2023, the waiting period would expire June 10, 2023, and your first payment would be due July 1, 2023.
Established Onset Date
An Established Onset Date or EOD is the date that Social Security determines that your disability began. The SSA will determine an EOD upon evaluation of your case.
This EOD is important because it defines the start of your waiting period.
An EOD is the date when your disability began, whereas your application date is the date you applied for SSDI. If you find that your EOD as determined by the SSA is incorrect, consult an SSDI attorney for what to do next.
Back Pay
The process for applying for SSDI is long. It is typical that you can wait months or even years from your onset date until when your benefits begin. The good news is that you can receive back pay for these months that occur between the date your waiting period ends and your approval.
This payment is usually given all at once rather than on a monthly basis. It also has a different timeline compared to when you receive your first benefits.
What Does the SSA Consider a Full Disability?
Benefits from Social Security are only available in the event of total disability. According to Social Security, if you are considered to have a total disability, it means that:
● Your condition hinders you from performing any of the work that you once did.
● Additionally, because of your condition, you are unable to adapt to different kinds of work.
● Your impairment has lasted (or is anticipated to last) for at least one year.
OR:
● Your doctor believes that your condition will eventually lead to death
When deciding who is eligible for SSDI, the SSA is very strict. The program operates under the presumption that employees and their families can access other forms of assistance in the event of a temporary or partial disability.
Simply stating that you have a complete disability is not sufficient. You are required to provide evidence of your condition and evidence of how your condition is limiting you from work. When you apply for benefits, the Social Security Administration will take a look at:
● Employment history
● Medical history
● Age
● Education
● Skills
Social Security will also consider your current employment status. Even if you are working part-time, if you earn more than Social Security’s threshold for “Substantial Gainful Activity” (“SGA”), then you will not be deemed eligible for benefits.
Can You Increase Your Social Security Disability Benefits?
It is possible for SSDI beneficiaries to increase their benefits by following a number of strategies. Read below to find out about the different ways you can increase your SSDI benefits.
1. Work for 35 Years
Your SSDI benefits are based on your highest-earning years. So, although you will be eligible for SSDI benefits after working for a minimum of 10 years, you have the option to receive benefits early, like at age 62, or late, like at age 70.
Your benefit amount is determined by taking the average of the 35 years in which you made the most money (highest-earning years). If you work for a shorter period, those zeros will be averaged in. Your benefit will increase in proportion to the amount of money you earn.
2. Sign Up for Spousal Benefits
In some cases, a spouse who is 62 or older and caring for a child may be eligible for benefits themselves. Depending upon the partner’s retirement age, the spousal benefit may be as high as 50% of the partner’s benefit.
If you’ve been divorced, don’t worry; you still have a shot. The Social Security earnings of one ex-spouse can be used to fund spousal support payments for the other ex-spouse.
You are not eligible for your ex-spouse’s benefits if, on the other hand, you have remarried after your divorce.
3. Sign up for Dependent Benefits
Be sure to disclose any minor dependents on your application for SSDI benefits. You can be eligible for SSDI benefits for your dependents based on your disability. Typically these benefits are capped at 50% of your personal benefits and they expire once your minor dependent graduates high school or reaches age 18 if they are not enrolled in school.
4. Monitor Income
If you continue to work after you start receiving Social Security payments, you need to carefully monitor your income to ensure that it does not surpass the maximum amount that is permitted. If you exceed these limits, the amount of benefits you receive for the year will be reduced.
However, once you have reached full retirement age, you will not be subject to any penalties for having earned income at any level.
5. Cost-of-Living Adjustment
A Cost-of-Living Adjustment is basically what it costs to keep a certain living standard. The SSA often provides a cost-of-living adjustment for beneficiaries. SSA’s cost of living adjustments depend on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers.
If there is an increase in the Consumer Price Index, then the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) will take effect in December of the same year that there was an increase in the CPI.
You should not contact a lawyer to increase your SSDI benefits for a cost of living adjustment as this is something the SSA will often provide for beneficiaries.
6. Recalculation of Disability Benefits
Recalculating your disability benefits to consider previous earnings that were not taken into account could also increase your SSDI payments. This would be done to credit previous earnings that were not taken into account.
It is necessary to perform recalculations whenever it is discovered that earnings that occurred during the actual base years were omitted from the initial calculation. When determining whether you are eligible for Social Security disability benefits, the Social Security Administration considers the earnings information they have on file for the preceding year.
However, the amount of money you earned after the beginning of the year in which you became disabled is considered to determine whether your payments should be increased as a result of your earnings. A recalculation such as this one is referred to as an Automatic Earnings Reappraisal Operation (“AERO recalculation”) and it occurs automatically two times per year.
After a recalculation has been finished, you will usually be informed by mail if you are qualified for an increase in the amount. Your raise will be effective as of January of the year following the one in which you earned the income that is the focus of the recalculation.
Will SSDI Benefits Increase with Worsening Condition?
If your health worsens or becomes more limiting, your SSDI benefits will not increase. This is because your work history, not the severity of your condition, will determine how much Social Security condition Insurance you receive each month.
If your application for Social Security Disability Insurance is accepted, the amount of your monthly disability benefit will be equal to the amount of your full retirement benefit. This is the sum of money that you would have been entitled to receive based on your work history if you had reached the age of full retirement before becoming disabled.
In addition, the approval of your claim indicates that the Social Security Administration has already established that you meet all of the criteria necessary to be considered fully disabled under its guidelines:
(i) Due to an injury or illness, you are unable to perform the majority of your job duties, and (ii) your condition will likely last for at least a year or result in your passing.
Your disability will not change no matter how much worse the condition gets. On the flip side, if your condition becomes better, you run the risk of losing the benefits you currently receive.
SSDI recipients’ medical conditions are evaluated on a regular basis by Social Security to determine whether or not they continue to meet the requirements to receive benefits under the disability insurance program. You will no longer be eligible for benefits if it is determined that your health has improved to the degree that you are able to return to normal work.
The same applies for the Supplemental Security Income program, which is the second program that is managed by Social Security and provides benefits to persons who are disabled.
SSI benefits are not determined by your total lifetime earnings, but they are influenced by your present income as well as the economic condition of your household. Your Social Security payment might be adjusted in the event of a change in your level of income or the circumstances of your living situation, but this adjustment won’t be based on the severity of your ailment.
Beneficiaries of the Supplemental Security Income program who are under the age of 65 are subjected to the same regular medical examinations in order for the Social Security Administration to decide whether or not they continue to meet the criteria for disability. When a person reaches the age of 65, they may become eligible for SSI on the basis of their age rather than their disability; hence, the medical examination is no longer necessary.
Conclusion
SSDI benefits are helpful for people who are unable to go back to work due to their medical conditions. You can increase your social security disability benefits by applying the above strategies. Hiring an SSDI attorney will also help you navigate this process.
