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  • Christopher Le

Can my Social Security disability amount increase if I become MORE disabled?

Unfortunately Not. Your SSDI benefits are based on your lifetime covered earnings. These are the earnings that you paid Social Security taxes on up until you became disabled. Even if you become “more” disabled after you are already receiving social security disability benefits, your benefits will not increase just because you had a new injury, had a major surgery or become “more” disabled.


In addition other benefits can reduce your social security disability benefits. These include worker’s compensation, public disability benefits and pensions based on work not covered by Social Security, such as a government or foreign government pension.


It should also be noted that your social security retirement benefit amount are also based on your lifetime covered earnings.

You receive the full benefit at your full retirement age (FRA). If you file sooner than full retirement age, you will be getting early retirement benefits and you’ll receive a lower benefit amount.

If you can, it’s best to wait as long as possible to claim social security retiremenr benefits. If you claim before your full retirement age, your benefit can be reduced by as much as 30% versus what you would have received at your FRA.” For example, a 30% reduction will turn your $1500 per month benefit into only $1050 per month.



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