If you’ve been struggling with a disability for months or even years without any assistance from the government, this blog is for you. You’ve likely already heard a lot about the Social Security disability program and how it can act as a safety net for someone like you, but maybe you’ve hesitated to move forward with a claim because you’re unsure of how much your benefit amount would be, or if you even have enough credits to qualify for insurance.
Well, I’m here to help. Figuring out your benefit amount is easier than you think. All you need to do is take these four easy steps.
- Visit SSA.gov. Back in the day, the Social Security Administration used to send Social Security statements annually through the mail. The green trifold reports would tell you just about everything you needed to know about your case, but today those reports are sent out very rarely, if at all. Now, the best way to figure out your benefit amount is to look up your Social Security statement online. To get started, visit the SSA’s official website.
- Click on “My Social Security.” Once you have the site open, click on the icon that says “My Social Security.” As of the writing of this, the button is located on the front page of SSA.gov, on the far left in a row of other icons. If you can’t find it, just look for the little image of a white hand hovering over a blue bar.
- Sign in or create an account. The “My Social Security” icon will take you to a new page where you can either sign into your existing Social Security account or, if you’ve never visited this website before, create your account. If you choose to create an account, you’ll need to come up with a username, password, and you will have to answer some security questions. After you do that (or if you already have an account, after you log in), you’ll be able to see your statement immediately!
- Open your statement, and look for the “Your Estimated Benefits” box. This section is usually located on the second page of your statement, and there will be a place in the box that reads “You have earned enough credits to qualify for benefits. If you became disabled right now, your payment would be about [monthly amount].” That’s where you’ll see your monthly benefit. Although the number you’ll see there is an estimate, in my experience it’s usually accurate. If you see an amount there, it’s also confirmation that you have enough credits to qualify for Social Security disability — in other words, you’ve paid enough into the system that you can now pull funds out. Every case is different, but in my experience, people who qualify for Social Security disability can usually expect to see a monthly benefit of $1,200 to $2,500. If you don’t see a number there, or you see the number zero, that means you don’t have enough credits to qualify.
Yes, figuring out your potential benefit amount really is that easy! Your Social Security statement is extremely revealing, which is why I encourage everyone who comes to me with questions about Social Security disability to take a few minutes to look theirs up.
If you’re still having trouble figuring out what your Social Security disability benefit would be, or if you’re ready to take the next step and file a claim, I’m happy to help. You can stop by The Injury and Disability Law Center Roswell office to schedule an appointment, or call me at 575-300-4000.
