What Determines Your SSDI Monthly Benefit

SSDI benefits are not based on the severity of your disability, but rather on how much you have paid into the Social Security system during your working years. Your monthly benefit is calculated using:

1. Your Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME):

This is the average of your highest-earning years, adjusted for inflation. The Social Security Administration uses this number to determine how much you've contributed over time.

2. Primary Insurance Amount (PIA):

SSA applies a formula to your AIME to arrive at your PIA. This is the base figure for your monthly SSDI payment.

3. Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA):

Each year, benefits are adjusted based on inflation. This ensures your SSDI check keeps pace with the cost of living.

Average SSDI Payments in Michigan

While the SSA doesn’t publish state-specific SSDI averages, most Michigan residents fall within the national range. In 2025, the average SSDI monthly payment is around $1,580 per month.

However, this is just an average. Depending on your earnings history:

• Lower earners might receive monthly payments as low as $900 to $1,200.
• Moderate earners may see monthly benefits in the range of $1,300 to $1,800.
• Higher earners with long work histories and larger lifetime earnings could receive up to the maximum monthly benefit, which exceeds $4,000.

It’s important to note that these are gross amounts before deductions such as Medicare premiums.

Does Michigan Offer Additional State-Based Benefits?

Michigan does not offer a state-specific SSDI supplement. However, some recipients may qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in addition to SSDI if their total income is low enough. Michigan may also provide Medicaid, SNAP benefits, or housing assistance, depending on your financial situation.

Additionally, once you’ve received SSDI for 24 months, you’ll become eligible for Medicare, even if you’re under age 65.

Why Your SSDI Amount Might Differ

Two people with similar medical conditions might receive very different SSDI payments. That’s because the amount is tied to how much you earned and contributed to Social Security taxes during your working years—not to how disabled you are.

If you had a high-paying job and worked consistently for many years, you’ll likely receive a higher monthly payment. On the other hand, individuals with shorter or lower-earning work histories may receive less.