Social Security does not make it easy to determine how much you’re going to receive in benefits, but it’s getting easier, thanks to their online account
Social Security will first calculate your average earnings over the past many years when you were working – your average indexed monthly earnings (AIME) is the number they come up with. Your AIME is then used to calculate what Social Security calls your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) – the AIME amounts fluctuate sometimes based on increases in cost of living, and then your PIA is a percentage of your AIME. Most people can probably expect somewhere between $1,500 and $2,000 monthly, but everyone’s claim is different.
You can view the details of your earnings record by signing up here: Social Security’s My Account Site
Past Due Benefits
Most people who are eventually approved for SSDI disability are awarded benefits dating back in the past to the date when Social Security found you first became disabled (up to 12-months maximum). Often, this 12-month past due benefits award is a result of the time it took from Initial Application through actual award.