1. How Are SSDI Payments Calculated?

SSDI payment amounts are not based on your household income or assets. Instead, they depend on your:

• Lifetime earnings covered under Social Security
• The amount of Social Security taxes you have paid over your work history
• Your Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME), which is a calculation SSA uses to adjust your past earnings for inflation and average them over your work history

SSA then uses your AIME to determine your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which is the monthly benefit you receive if approved.

2. What Is the Average SSDI Payment in Missouri?

As of 2024, the average SSDI payment nationwide is approximately $1,537 per month, though individual payments vary widely based on each worker’s earning history. In Missouri:

• Some recipients receive lower payments, such as $900-$1,200 monthly, particularly if they had fewer years of high earnings
• Others may receive higher payments exceeding $2,000 per month if they had a long history of steady, higher-wage employment

3. What Is the Maximum SSDI Payment in Missouri?

The maximum SSDI payment in 2024 is $3,822 per month. To receive this maximum benefit, an individual would have needed to earn at or above the taxable maximum income for many years. Most claimants do not receive the maximum but payments close to it can occur for workers with long, high-earning careers.

4. Does Missouri Provide a State Supplement to SSDI?

Missouri does not provide additional state supplements to SSDI payments, as SSDI is purely a federal insurance program based on your work history. However:

• If you also receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) due to low income, Missouri provides a small state supplement for SSI recipients, mainly for individuals in certain residential or care facilities.
• SSDI recipients with no SSI benefits do not receive a state supplement in Missouri.

5. Are SSDI Payments in Missouri Taxable?

SSDI payments may be subject to federal taxes if your total income exceeds certain thresholds:

• For individuals with combined income above $25,000, up to 50% of SSDI benefits may be taxable.
• For couples filing jointly with combined income above $32,000, up to 50% may be taxable, and up to 85% if income exceeds $44,000.

Missouri does not tax SSDI benefits at the state level, meaning your SSDI payments are exempt from Missouri state income tax.

6. What Factors Reduce SSDI Payments?

Your SSDI payments may be reduced if you receive:

• Workers’ compensation benefits or certain public disability benefits, as SSA applies an offset to prevent your total combined disability income from exceeding a certain threshold
• However, private disability insurance payments do not reduce your SSDI benefits

7. Can Cost-of-Living Adjustments Increase Payments?

Yes. Each year, SSDI payments are adjusted for inflation through a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) determined by the federal government. For example:

• The COLA for 2024 was 3.2%, increasing monthly payments compared to 2023
• Future COLA increases help SSDI recipients maintain purchasing power despite inflation

8. How to Check Your Estimated SSDI Payment Amount

Before applying, you can check your estimated SSDI benefit amount by:

• Creating a “my Social Security” account at www.ssa.gov
• Reviewing your Social Security Statement, which shows your estimated SSDI payment if you became disabled today, based on your earnings record

This can help you plan your budget, determine household financial needs, and understand whether SSI will be necessary alongside SSDI if your payment is low.