SSDI Benefits Calculator: Estimate Your Monthly Disability Benefits

Name: SSA Quick Benefit Calculator
Author: Akash Biswas

Based on Official SSA 2026 Guidelines

Updated January, 2026

Enter Date of Birth: Input your date of birth to determine your full retirement age and eligibility years.
Input Current Earnings: Enter your current annual gross income. The calculator uses this to model your past indexed earnings history.
View Estimates: Review your potential benefit amounts for Disability, Survivor protection, and future Retirement.

Data Year

Date of Birth

Used to calculate eligibility and retirement age.

Current Annual Earnings ($)

Gross pre-tax income. We estimate your past earnings history from this amount.

Earnings History Pattern

Select "Average" if your salary grew steadily over time.

Disability & Survivor Estimates

Assuming disability or death occurs today:

Benefit Type	Monthly Amount
Disability Benefit (You)	$0
Your child (Survivor)	$0
Spouse caring for child (Survivor)	$0
Spouse at full retirement age (Survivor)	$0
Family Maximum (Disability)	$0

Retirement Estimates

Estimates based on continued work until retirement:

Retirement Age	Monthly Amount
Age 62 (Early)	$0
Age 67 (Full Retirement)	$0
Age 70 (Delayed)	$0

Note: We have calculated these benefits by making assumptions about your past earnings based on your current income. Actual benefits are determined by the Social Security Administration based on your complete lifetime earnings record.

* Disability Family Max is generally capped at 85% of AIME or 150% of PIA. * Retirement/Survivor Family Max uses a different formula (typically higher).

Calculator designed by Akash Biswas

How SSDI Benefits Are Calculated

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits are based on your past work and earnings, not on your medical condition or current income.

Here is the simple breakdown.

Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME)

The SSA looks at your past work earnings and adjusts them for inflation.
This gives an average monthly number called AIME.

Only working years count
Low-earning years may be dropped
Higher lifetime earnings usually mean higher benefits.

This calculator estimates your AIME using your current income and work pattern.

Primary Insurance Amount (PIA)

Your PIA is your base monthly SSDI benefit.

Once the SSA calculates your AIME, they apply a formula to it.
The result is your PIA, which is what SSDI is built from.

Your PIA is also used to calculate:

Survivor benefits
Family maximum benefits
Future retirement benefits

Bend Points (Simple Explanation)

Bend points are dollar limits in the SSA formula.

They make sure:

Lower earners get a higher percentage of their income
Higher earners get a lower percentage on higher amounts

In simple terms:

The first part of your earnings counts more
Later parts count less

This calculator uses current SSA bend points to estimate benefits accurately.

What This SSDI Calculator Includes

This calculator is designed to be detailed but easy to use.

It includes:

Estimated earnings history based on your input
Official SSA bend point formulas
Inflation-adjusted wage modeling
Disability, survivor, and retirement estimates
Family maximum benefit limits

All calculations follow current Social Security rules used for benefit estimates.

What This Calculator Does NOT Do

This calculator is for estimates only.

It does not:

Decide if you qualify for SSDI
Guarantee approval or payment
Replace official SSA calculations
Access your real SSA earnings record

Only the Social Security Administration can make final decisions.

Being clear about this helps protect users and builds trust.

Who This Calculator Is For

This calculator is helpful for:

Workers thinking about SSDI
People who recently became disabled
Family members helping someone plan
Anyone wanting a realistic SSDI estimate

You do not need an SSA account to use this tool.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How accurate is this SSDI calculator?

This calculator gives a close estimate, not an exact amount.

It uses SSA formulas, bend points, and earnings patterns.
Your real SSDI benefit depends on your full lifetime earnings record at SSA.

Only the Social Security Administration can give final numbers.

2. Is this an official Social Security (SSA) calculator?

No.

This is an independent educational tool.
It is not run by the SSA and is not affiliated with the government.

It follows SSA rules to help you understand possible benefits.

3. What affects how much SSDI I can receive?

Your SSDI amount depends on:

Your lifetime work earnings
How many years you worked
SSA benefit formulas
Family benefit limits

Your medical condition affects eligibility, not the payment amount.

4. Does this calculator decide if I qualify for SSDI?

No.

This calculator does not determine eligibility.
Only the SSA decides if you qualify based on medical and work rules.

This tool only estimates potential benefit amounts.

5. Can SSDI benefit amounts change over time?

Yes. SSDI benefits can change due to:

Cost-of-living adjustments (COLA)
Work activity after approval
Family or dependent changes

The SSA reviews benefits regularly.

6. Why does my estimated amount look different from SSA statements?

Differences can happen because:

This calculator estimates past earnings
SSA uses your exact wage history
Timing of COLA updates may differ

Small differences are normal in estimates.

7. Should I still check my SSA account?

Yes. For the most accurate information, you should:

Create or log into your my Social Security account
Review your official earnings record
Compare SSA estimates with this calculator

This calculator is best used for planning and understanding, not final decisions.