Calculating Benefits for a Spouse of a Disabled Worker

If you are the spouse of a disabled worker, you may have wondered just how the Social Security Disability Insurance benefits that you receive are calculated. Social Security has its own complicated formula that uses government computers for determining the dollar amount of the benefits you will receive. However, there are a few qualifications that the spouse of a disabled worker must have in order to receive benefits on his or her spouse’s previous earnings. Generally, the spouse of a disabled worker must meet several conditions. Two of these are:

• Aged 62 or older
• Any age if you are taking care of the child of a disabled spouse.

Once these have been met, more calculations are in order. Generally, the amount of benefits that the spouse of a disabled worker will receive has to do with the amount of money earned by the disabled spouse while he or she was still able to work. The larger the salary, the bigger the benefit, although Social Security does put a cap on the amount received. Each individual person’s circumstances are different, so each spouse of a disabled worker will receive a different amount each month.

How Social Security Calculates Benefits

Social Security has made it quite simple to estimate the monthly amount of disability benefits. This amount is based on the average lifetime pay of an American worker. Everyone in America who works and pays into Social Security receives a statement each year from the SSA. This statement is sent to inform individuals of their lifetime earnings, and an estimate of the amount of the retirement and survivor’s benefits that a worker and his or her family could receive. You must have a certain number of work credits earned in order to be eligible for Social Security Disability Income, or SSDI.

How Disability Benefits Work

The SSDI program pays benefits to disabled workers who can’t work for a year or longer because of their disability. These benefits continue until the disabled worker can work again, or until retirement age is reached. The benefits then switch over to regular Social Security retirement benefits.

Is it Time to Seek Legal Assistance?

There are attorneys all over the United States who are well versed in helping people receive the Social Security Disability Insurance they deserve. If you are the spouse of a disabled worker and are concerned about the amount of benefits you would receive from Social Security, you should seek competent legal counsel as soon as possible.