How are Social Security disability benefits calculated? This is a common question that an Aurora Social Security disability lawyer routinely answers. These legal professionals help people navigate the confusing waters of this complex system.
The First Step
One of the first things to understand about this Social Security program is that it typically does not interfere with any privately funded disability payments you may already be receiving. If an individual gets a disability payment from a state entity, the Social Security Administration (SSA) might reduce the federal payment.
How are Social Security Disability Benefits Calculated?
The calculation begins with your monthly income, but instead of using your current paychecks, the administration will take a snapshot of your entire work life. That number will be divided to develop an overall average monthly income, and further adjustments are made, such as wage growth and other retirement benefits.
Before Retirement
To make the situation even more complicated, an individual seeking disability payments before they are eligible to retire will have to be put through another calculation method. In general, the process considers work history and time on the job. If you have not been working for many years, your payment might be considerably different from an individual who has been working for decades.
Resources
To understand the process and to be sure you are not leaving any money on the table, it is a good idea to seek legal advice. To get all of your questions answered, reach out to an Aurora Social Security disability lawyer at Harold W. Conick & Associates, Ltd.
