You’ll get a check from Social Security each month, usually for between $600 and $3,600.
When you first qualify, the government will pay you back pay benefits for any months where you were already disabled but hadn’t yet qualified. This is a lump sum generally between $10,000 to $40,000.
How much will it be?
It depends on how much money you made while working and how much you have now. If you’ve mostly worked before becoming disabled, the average is $1,500 per month, calculated by your payroll taxes. If you mostly haven’t worked, the average is $600, calculated based on any other income you have. Why? There are two different programs — “SSDI” is for people who have worked, even if they have money; “SSI” is for people who have very little income, regardless of their work history.
How long will it last?
For most people, it lasts forever (when you retire, it converts to retirement but the amount stays the same). If you recover and can return to work, the benefits stop until you hit retirement.
Is it taxable?
For many people, no. But if you have a bunch of other income sources, or a particularly high benefit amount, some portion will be.
What if I already took early retirement?
If you chose to take early Social Security Retirement benefits (between 62 and 66), you can still apply for disability. If you secure disability, your monthly payment will go up, generally with no downside.
Read more: How Much Can I Make on SSDI or SSI?