What are ways to increase my SSDI benefits? Social Security Disability Insurance benefit payments are based on your earnings record, so increasing your SSDI benefits can be challenging. Strategies that might help include reviewing your SSA earnings record for accuracy, working below the SGA limits (to increase your lifetime earnings), and applying for additional benefits like SSI or state disability programs. Your benefits might also increase annually on their own, through COLA.
If you need legal advice about increasing your SSDI benefits in Illinois, call Ankin Law in Chicago at 872-529-9377.
Ways to Increase My SSDI Benefits in Illinois
When calculating SSDI benefits in Illinois, the SSA uses your earnings record and Social Security tax payments to determine how much you’ll get paid. These strategies might help you increase your monthly payments, however.
Reviewing Your Earnings Record
If you or your Social Security disability lawyers find errors in your earnings record, and you have not been credited correctly, you can request a recalculation of your monthly SSDI benefit payment. These mistakes are rare, but they do occasionally happen.
Working Part-Time
If your disability allows, you might consider working part-time while receiving disability benefits. Working within Social Security’s SGA guidelines can increase your lifetime earnings record, in turn increasing your SSDI benefits payments.
Applying for Additional Benefits
Explore Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or state disability programs if eligible. While Illinois does not offer a state disability benefits program, other assistance programs are available to qualified Illinois residents with disabilities. These include, for example, Aid to the Aged, Blind and Disabled (AABD), which provides cash assistance and medical care to low-income people who qualify. Other programs include Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Health Benefits for Workers with Disabilities (HBWD), and SNAP (formerly Food Stamps).
Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA)
Each year, the SSA increases SSDI benefits based on increases in the cost of living. The SSA makes yearly adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index and increases benefit payments to SSDI recipients according to the cost of living adjustments (COLA). Effective in January 2024, the SSA cost of living adjustment was set at 3.2%, which means a 3.2% increase in 2023 monthly benefit payments. To show how COLA impacts your benefits: In 2023, the maximum yearly SSDI income limits for an eligible individual was $10,970.44. In 2024, it increased to $11.321.49.
According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), the 2025 COLA starting in January will increase the estimated average monthly SSDI benefit for a worker with a disability by $38, from $1,542 to $1,580. In 2025, most SSDI recipients will also be able to earn up to $1,620 a month from work without risk to their benefits, up from $1,550 in 2024. For people who are blind, the cap is higher. They will be able to make up to $2,700 a month, a $110 increase from 2024.
Additional Tips for Increasing Your SSDI Benefits
If you need to increase your SSDI benefits, hiring a Social Security disability lawyer is one of the best ways to do it. Experienced Illinois disability lawyers who are familiar with the eligibility requirements for SSDI can review your disability claim, assist you with the filling process, and advocate with DDS on your behalf. Research and statistics in Illinois show that 60% of SSDI applications handled by lawyers are approved for benefits, compared to 34% of those who do not have a lawyer involved in the application process. By advocating on your behalf, your lawyer can help you:
- File your disability application with DDS
- Obtain relevant medical records and evidence
- Communicate with the SSA and DDS on your behalf
- Make sure you meet all required deadlines
- File appeals if your application is denied
- Represent you in disability appeal hearings
Unfortunately, the SSA denies at least 50% of SSDI applications for reasons including missing or incorrect personal information; incorrect work information; missing medical documents and reports; lack of evidence to support disability; and missed filing deadlines. If the SSA denies your application or claim, your lawyer can file three different types of appeals on your behalf:
Request for Reconsideration
If SSA denies your application, you will get a notice stating that you have 65 days from the date on the notice to make a written “Request for Reconsideration.” You may be required to submit to a medical exam. Your disability lawyer can ensure that SSA receives all information regarding doctor’s visits, treatments and medications, and doctors’ and hospital records.
Request for an Administrative Legal Hearing
If your Request for Reconsideration is denied, you will get a second notice stating that you have 65 days from the date on the notice to make a written request for a hearing before an administration legal judge (ALJ). Administrative judges are hired by SSA to conduct hearings. Your lawyer can represent you and arrange for vocational or medical experts to attend the hearing and testify on pertinent matters.
Request for Review by the Appeals Council
If the ALJ hearing decision is not favorable, you will have 65 days from the date of the ALJ notice to make a written request for review by the Appeals Council. Your lawyer can make the written request, explain the reasons for requesting a review, and request additional time to submit a written argument. This is your last opportunity for a successful appeal and approved SSDI application. If your request is denied, you will have to file a new claim for SSDI benefits and restart the approval process.
What Are the Eligibility Requirements for SSDI in Illinois?
Eligibility for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits is based on whether the claimant can work in any job and perform substantial gainful activity. The amount of the person’s monthly disability check depends on the work credits the claimant has earned, and the amount of Social Security taxes paid into the system.
To be eligible for SSDI benefits, you must have a disability that prevents you from working for at least one year or more, or is expected to result in your death. To meet the eligibility requirement for work credits, you must have worked for at least 5 of the last 10 years and paid into the social security system. If you are filing to SSDI, and you’re still able to perform work duties despite your disability, your disability must significantly limit your ability to earn a livable wage.
- To be eligible for SSDI, you cannot earn income above the amount set for “substantial gainful activity” (SGA). In 2024, the SGA maximum for disability is $1,550 per month.
- If you are blind, you cannot earn income above the SGA maximum amount of $2,590 per month in 2024.
In Illinois, the Bureau of Disability Determination Services (DDS) is the state department that makes initial determinations about disability eligibility. When you apply for SSDI benefits, DDS will review your application and gather your medical records to evaluate whether you have a qualifying disability. They will also review your prior work experience, education, and age. During this review process, DDS will look closely at factors affecting SSDI benefits and your ability to perform work. Important factors include:
How Long will You be Out of Work?
The worker filing for benefits must be out of work or expected to be out of work for one full year. If the applicant is working and his/her gross monthly earnings average more than the SGA limit for the current year, the applicant will not be eligible for benefits.
Does Your Disability Significantly Impact Your Ability to Work?
A disability or disabling medical condition must be severe enough to limit the applicant’s ability to do routine work activities. Examples of this would be difficulty with basic tasks such as standing, walking, sitting, reaching, or lifting.
Can You Perform Your Prior Work Duties?
A disability or medical condition must prevent the worker from performing his/her prior work duties before the disability or medical condition occurs. If it does not, the applicant will not be eligible for SSDI benefits.
Can You Perform Other Types of Work Duties?
An applicant’s age, education, work skills, prior work experience, and medical condition will be evaluated to determine approval for benefits. If a worker is being treated by a licensed physician and is not capable of performing other types of work duties, he/she may be considered disabled and eligible for benefits.
What happens to SSDI benefits if your medical condition improves? If your condition improves, and you are able to work and perform SGA, your SSDI benefits will be discontinued. You may be able to get your benefits reinstated, however, if you become unable to work because of the same disability in the future.
For help with SSDI benefits in Illinois, contact us for a free case review. Our Social Security disability lawyers can get your application approved and help you increase monthly benefits.
