There is little you can do to increase your Social Security Disability payment in Ohio. This is true for both Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). However, there may be other options for increasing your income.
To calculate your SSDI benefit, the Social Security Administration uses a complex formula based on your average wages over the last few years and other data. Generally, everyone who receives SSI gets the same payment. To learn more about your own benefit amounts, you can check your statement online.
Understanding Your Ohio Disability Payment and Why It Might Increase
The factors that go into calculating your Social Security Disability Insurance benefits are already set by the time you apply for this type of disability. The Social Security Administration will look at your earnings record prior to your disability and use it as the foundation for how much you could get each month in disability benefits.
This is possible because the government tasks the Internal Revenue Service and the Social Security Administration with recording each person’s income and taxes paid on their Social Security earnings record.
How much you receive once approved for disability depends heavily on how much you previously earned. The current maximum Social Security Disability Insurance benefit may play a role, as well
Your SSDI and SSI benefits could increase automatically on an annual basis due to the cost of living adjustment. Everyone’s benefits will increase by 1.6% for 2020 over their 2019 totals.
You May Be Able to Increase Your Income by Working While on SSDI or SSI
There are some cases where you can qualify for SSDI or SSI and still retain the ability to work. Social Security Disability offers several programs that allow you to try to return to work, but understanding how much you can earn without losing your disability benefits can be tricky.
You can work while waiting for your Social Security Disability benefits. You cannot earn more than the current substantial gainful activity (SGA) limit and still qualify for disability. If you want to try to return to work when you already receive disability, you need to notify the Social Security Administration and follow their rules about reporting your earnings.
Returning to Work Could Increase Your Disability Payment in Some Cases
If your SSDI payment is low because you had a low average income in the years before you became fully disabled, you may be able to increase your social security disability payment in Ohio by working.
This could be true even if you never exceed the current SGA limit. For example, imagine you previously earned only $500 a month. If you get a job that pays $1,000 a month and work for several months, it could increase your disability payments since this is now your most recent income.
Other Ways to Increase Your Income While Drawing Disability
In some cases, you may be eligible for increased benefits through the Social Security Administration. This will not increase your current payment directly but could result in a higher total household income. Some possibilities to consider include:
- Your minor child or disabled adult child could qualify for disability benefits based on your work record or the work record of their other parent
- You may be able to apply based on your spouse’s record if your spouse or ex-spouse passed away; this survivor benefit may be higher than the benefit based on your work
- You may qualify for SSI if you currently receive only a small SSDI payment and have few assets
There are also other types of benefits you may be eligible to receive. While these will not increase your Social Security Disability payment in Ohio, they can help you make ends meet. This could include benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) if you are a veteran or Ohio Medicaid that can help you pay for medical care.
Berger and Green Can Help You Pursue the Disability Benefits You Deserve
The Ohio Social Security Disability attorneys from Berger and Green can help you pursue the disability benefits you need. Whether you are applying for SSDI or SSI for the first time, trying to apply based on your spouse’s work record, or trying to get SSI in addition to SSDI, our team can help.
Let us review your case today. We know what it takes to get approved for disability benefits in Ohio and how to navigate the process if the Social Security Administration denies your claim. We can fight for the disability benefits you need and deserve.
Call or text (412) 661-1400 today to discuss your application for Ohio disability benefits with a member of our team.
