SSDI Topic
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a federal insurance program that pays monthly benefits to workers who have paid Social Security taxes long enough and now cannot work due to a medical condition expected to last at least 12 months or result in death.
SSDI is administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and funded by FICA payroll taxes. Eligibility depends on two things: enough work credits, and a medical condition that meets the SSA's strict definition of disability. After a 5-month waiting period, SSDI pays a monthly benefit based on the worker's average lifetime earnings, and Medicare coverage begins 24 months after SSDI entitlement.
Sourced from ssa.gov — see citations below.
Who qualifies for SSDI?
To qualify for SSDI, a worker must have (1) enough recent work credits from FICA-taxed employment and (2) a medically determinable impairment expected to last at least 12 months or result in death that prevents substantial gainful activity.
How is SSDI different from SSI?
SSDI is an insurance program based on work credits and prior earnings; Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a needs-based program with income and resource limits and does not require work history.
What does the process look like?
An SSDI claim moves through application, state-agency medical review, and — if denied — a multi-level appeals process. The SSA measures medical severity against its Listing of Impairments (Blue Book).
How much does SSDI pay?
The benefit is based on the worker's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA). For 2026 the maximum monthly SSDI benefit is $4,152, and the average benefit is approximately $1,630 per month.
Check eligibility: Try the SSDI Qualification Check — a short 5-question screen based on the basic criteria the SSA uses.
Topics
Sources
Every figure and rule on this page is drawn from official SSA publications. Verify at the links below.
- SSA — 2026 COLA Fact Sheet (ssa.gov)
- SSA — Apply for Disability Benefits (ssa.gov)
- SSA — Listing of Impairments (Blue Book) (ssa.gov)
- SSA — SSI vs SSDI Comparison (ssa.gov)