Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
link to page 1 
Updated April 14, 2023
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
Overview
Department of Veterans Affairs programs, SSDI does not
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is part of the
pay benefits for partial or short-term disabilities.
Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI)
program, commonly known as Social Security. OASDI is a
Spouses of disabled workers qualify for SSDI benefits if
federal social insurance program that provides monthly
they are (1) aged 62 or older or (2) any age and care for an
cash benefits to insured workers and their eligible family
eligible child who is under age 16 or disabled. Children of
members in the event of the worker’s retirement, disability,
disabled workers qualify for SSDI benefits if they are
or death. Workers obtain insurance protection by working
unmarried and (1) under age 18, (2) aged 18-19 and a full-
for a sufficient period in jobs covered by Social Security.
time student in grade 12 or below, or (3) aged 18 or older
The program’s SSDI component provides benefits to
and became disabled before age 22.
nonelderly insured workers who experience long-term,
work-limiting disabilities and to their eligible spouses and
Cash and Medical Benefits
children. As with Old-Age and Survivors Insurance
In February 2023, Social Security provided $11.7 billion in
(OASI)—Social Security’s retirement and survivors
benefits to about 8.8 million SSDI beneficiaries, including
component—benefits are based on a worker’s past earnings
7.5 million disabled workers, 89,000 spouses of disabled
in covered employment or self-employment. The Social
workers, and 1.1 million children of disabled workers
Security Administration (SSA) administers OASDI.
(Table 1). The average monthly SSDI benefit was $1,483
for disabled workers, $406 for spouses of disabled workers,
Eligibility Requirements
and $472 for children of disabled workers.
To qualify for SSDI, workers must (1) be below Social
Security’s full retirement age (FRA), (2) be insured in the
Table 1. SSDI Beneficiaries, February 2023
event of disability, and (3) meet the statutory definition of
disability. FRA is the age at which unreduced Social
Total
Security retired-worker benefits are first payable, which is
Average
Monthly
65-67, depending on year of birth. Workers who have
Number
Monthly
Benefits
attained their FRA are ineligible for SSDI.
Beneficiary
(thousands)
Benefit
(millions)
Total
8,763
$1,341
$11,749
To be insured in the event of disability, workers must have
worked in jobs covered by Social Security for about a
Disabled
7,534
$1,483
$11,174
quarter of their adult lives and for at least five of the 10
Workers
years prior to the onset of disability. However, younger
Spouses
89
$406
$36
workers may qualify with less work experience based on
their age. In 2022, SSDI provided disability insurance
Children
1,140
$472
$539
protection to 159 million workers. That year, about 90% of
Source: SSA, “Monthly Statistical Snapshot, February 2023,” Table 2.
covered workers aged 21-64 had sufficient work experience
Notes: Components may not sum to totals due to rounding.
to qualify for SSDI in the event of disability.
Initial benefits for disabled workers are based on their
To meet the statutory definition of disability, a worker must
career-average earnings in covered employment or self-
be unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity
employment, indexed to reflect changes in national wage
(SGA) due to any medically determinable physical or
levels. The benefit formula is progressive, replacing a
mental impairment that (1) is expected to result in death or
greater share of career-average earnings for low-wage
(2) has lasted, or is expected to last, for at least 12
workers than for high-wage workers. The benefit for a
consecutive months. SSA uses an earnings limit to
spouse or child of a disabled worker is up to 50% of the
determine if a person’s work activity constitutes SGA,
worker’s basic benefit amount. Following entitlement,
which for 2023 is $1,470 per month for most workers and
SSDI benefits are generally adjusted each year to account
$2,460 per month for blind workers. (These amounts are
for inflation through cost-of-living adjustments.
adjusted annually for average wage growth.) In general,
workers must have severe impairments that prevent them
Benefits for dependents are subject to family maximum
from doing any kind of substantial work that exists in
provisions, which limit the total amount of benefits that can
significant numbers in the national economy, taking into
be paid on a worker’s record. SSDI benefits may be offset if
consideration their age, education, and work experience.
disabled workers also receive WC or certain other public
The work need not exist in the immediate area in which the
disability benefits and the combined amount of their SSDI
worker lives, nor must a specific job vacancy exist for the
and other disability benefits exceeds 80% of their average
individual. Unlike workers’ compensation (WC) or the
current earnings before they became disabled.
https://crsreports.congress.gov
link to page 2
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
SSDI benefits begin five full consecutive months after a
Financing
worker’s disability onset date. This requirement is known
Benefits and administrative costs for Social Security are
as the five-month waiting period and does not apply to
financed primarily by payroll taxes levied on covered
disabled workers with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
workers’ earnings, which are credited to the Disability
Disabled workers also qualify for Medicare after 24 months
Insurance (DI) and OASI Trust Funds. The total Social
of entitlement to SSDI (29 full consecutive months after
Security payroll tax rate is 12.4% of a worker’s earnings:
their disability onset date). This requirement is known as
1.8% for the DI Trust Fund and 10.6% for the OASI Trust
the 24-month waiting period and does not apply to disabled
Fund. The payroll tax is levied on earnings up to an annual
workers aged 65 to FRA or to disabled workers below age
limit, which for 2023 is $160,200. The trust funds also
65 who have ALS or end-stage renal disease.
receive income from the taxation of a portion of some
Social Security benefits and from interest earned on U.S.
Termination of Benefits
securities credited to the trust funds for years in which total
In general, SSDI benefits continue until a disabled worker
income exceeded total cost.
(1) dies, (2) attains FRA, (3) medically improves, or (4)
In 2022, total income to the Social Security trust funds was
returns to work (i.e., earns above the SGA limit). Most
$1.222 trillion, with $165 billion (or 14%) credited to the
disabled workers who leave the SSDI rolls do so because
DI Trust Fund. That same year, total cost for the trust funds
they attain FRA. Disabled workers who attain FRA are
was $1.244 trillion, with $147 billion (or 12%) debited
transitioned automatically from SSDI to OASI; however,
from the DI Trust Fund. The trust funds held a combined
this change generally does not affect the amount of Social
$2.830 trillion in asset reserves at the end of 2022, with
Security benefits paid to them or their dependents.
$118 billion (or 4%) credited to the DI Trust Fund.
Working While on SSDI
The Social Security trustees project that under current law
Disabled workers are afforded a trial work period (TWP),
and under their 2023 intermediate assumptions, the trust
which allows them to test their ability to work for up to nine
funds on a hypothetical combined basis will be able to pay
months (not necessarily consecutive) within a rolling 60-
benefits in full and on time until 2034. Individually, the
month period without having their benefits suspended or
OASI Trust Fund is projected to be depleted in 2033, while
terminated. During the TWP, disabled workers may earn
the DI Trust Fund is projected to have sufficient income to
any amount and receive their full benefits, even if their
pay benefits in full and on time throughout the 75-year
earnings exceed the SGA limit. In 2023, any month in
projection period (i.e., through at least 2097).
which a disabled worker’s earnings exceed $1,050 is
counted toward the cumulative nine-month TWP. (This
Characteristics of Disabled Workers
amount is adjusted annually for average wage growth.)
SSDI provides benefits primarily to older workers. In
December 2021, nearly 78% of disabled workers were aged
Disabled workers who exhaust the TWP enter an extended
50 to FRA. The most common diagnostic group for
period of eligibility (EPE), which allows them to continue
disabled workers aged 50 to FRA was musculoskeletal
to receive benefits for months in which their earnings are at
disorders, while the most common diagnostic group for
or below the SGA limit. During the first 36 months of the
those below age 50 was mental disorders (Figure 1).
EPE, known as the reentitlement period, benefits are
Figure 1. Disabled Workers, by Diagnostic Group and
effectively suspended for months in which earnings exceed
Age Group, December 2021
the SGA limit. Disabled workers who earn above the SGA
limit after the 36-month reentitlement period are considered
no longer disabled, and their benefits are terminated.
(Under a special grace period, benefits are paid for the first
month in which earnings exceed the SGA limit during the
EPE and the next two months, regardless of disability-
cessation status or the level of earnings during the latter two
months.) Disabled workers who are terminated due to
earnings above the SGA limit but who continue to have a
qualifying impairment retain Medicare coverage for at least
57 months following the end of the 36-month reentitlement
period.
Program Integrity
SSA periodically reevaluates the medical status of disabled
workers by conducting continuing disability reviews
(CDRs). Disabled workers with impairments that may
improve are scheduled for CDRs at least once every three
years, and those with the most severe impairments are
scheduled for CDRs at least once every five to seven years.
SSA also performs work CDRs to determine if disabled
Source: SSA, Annual Statistical Report on the Social Security Disability
workers are earning above the SGA limit and if their
Insurance Program, 2021, Table 24.
entitlement to benefits should continue.
Notes: “Nervous System” includes sense organ diseases;
“Musculoskeletal Disorders” includes connective tissue diseases.
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
IF10506
William R. Morton, Analyst in Income Security
Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to
congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress.
Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has
been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the
United States Government, are not subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be
reproduced and distributed in its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include
copyrighted images or material from a third party, you may need to obtain the permission of the copyright holder if you
wish to copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.
https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF10506 · VERSION 8 · UPDATED
Updated April 14, 2023
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
Overview
Department of Veterans Affairs programs, SSDI does not
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is part of the
pay benefits for partial or short-term disabilities.
Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI)
program, commonly known as Social Security. OASDI is a
Spouses of disabled workers qualify for SSDI benefits if
federal social insurance program that provides monthly
they are (1) aged 62 or older or (2) any age and care for an
cash benefits to insured workers and their eligible family
eligible child who is under age 16 or disabled. Children of
members in the event of the worker’s retirement, disability,
disabled workers qualify for SSDI benefits if they are
or death. Workers obtain insurance protection by working
unmarried and (1) under age 18, (2) aged 18-19 and a full-
for a sufficient period in jobs covered by Social Security.
time student in grade 12 or below, or (3) aged 18 or older
The program’s SSDI component provides benefits to
and became disabled before age 22.
nonelderly insured workers who experience long-term,
work-limiting disabilities and to their eligible spouses and
Cash and Medical Benefits
children. As with Old-Age and Survivors Insurance
In February 2023, Social Security provided $11.7 billion in
(OASI)—Social Security’s retirement and survivors
benefits to about 8.8 million SSDI beneficiaries, including
component—benefits are based on a worker’s past earnings
7.5 million disabled workers, 89,000 spouses of disabled
in covered employment or self-employment. The Social
workers, and 1.1 million children of disabled workers
Security Administration (SSA) administers OASDI.
(Table 1). The average monthly SSDI benefit was $1,483
for disabled workers, $406 for spouses of disabled workers,
Eligibility Requirements
and $472 for children of disabled workers.
To qualify for SSDI, workers must (1) be below Social
Security’s full retirement age (FRA), (2) be insured in the
Table 1. SSDI Beneficiaries, February 2023
event of disability, and (3) meet the statutory definition of
disability. FRA is the age at which unreduced Social
Total
Security retired-worker benefits are first payable, which is
Average
Monthly
65-67, depending on year of birth. Workers who have
Number
Monthly
Benefits
attained their FRA are ineligible for SSDI.
Beneficiary
(thousands)
Benefit
(millions)
Total
8,763
$1,341
$11,749
To be insured in the event of disability, workers must have
worked in jobs covered by Social Security for about a
Disabled
7,534
$1,483
$11,174
quarter of their adult lives and for at least five of the 10
Workers
years prior to the onset of disability. However, younger
Spouses
89
$406
$36
workers may qualify with less work experience based on
their age. In 2022, SSDI provided disability insurance
Children
1,140
$472
$539
protection to 159 million workers. That year, about 90% of
Source: SSA, “Monthly Statistical Snapshot, February 2023,” Table 2.
covered workers aged 21-64 had sufficient work experience
Notes: Components may not sum to totals due to rounding.
to qualify for SSDI in the event of disability.
Initial benefits for disabled workers are based on their
To meet the statutory definition of disability, a worker must
career-average earnings in covered employment or self-
be unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity
employment, indexed to reflect changes in national wage
(SGA) due to any medically determinable physical or
levels. The benefit formula is progressive, replacing a
mental impairment that (1) is expected to result in death or
greater share of career-average earnings for low-wage
(2) has lasted, or is expected to last, for at least 12
workers than for high-wage workers. The benefit for a
consecutive months. SSA uses an earnings limit to
spouse or child of a disabled worker is up to 50% of the
determine if a person’s work activity constitutes SGA,
worker’s basic benefit amount. Following entitlement,
which for 2023 is $1,470 per month for most workers and
SSDI benefits are generally adjusted each year to account
$2,460 per month for blind workers. (These amounts are
for inflation through cost-of-living adjustments.
adjusted annually for average wage growth.) In general,
workers must have severe impairments that prevent them
Benefits for dependents are subject to family maximum
from doing any kind of substantial work that exists in
provisions, which limit the total amount of benefits that can
significant numbers in the national economy, taking into
be paid on a worker’s record. SSDI benefits may be offset if
consideration their age, education, and work experience.
disabled workers also receive WC or certain other public
The work need not exist in the immediate area in which the
disability benefits and the combined amount of their SSDI
worker lives, nor must a specific job vacancy exist for the
and other disability benefits exceeds 80% of their average
individual. Unlike workers’ compensation (WC) or the
current earnings before they became disabled.
https://crsreports.congress.gov
link to page 2
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
SSDI benefits begin five full consecutive months after a
Financing
worker’s disability onset date. This requirement is known
Benefits and administrative costs for Social Security are
as the five-month waiting period and does not apply to
financed primarily by payroll taxes levied on covered
disabled workers with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
workers’ earnings, which are credited to the Disability
Disabled workers also qualify for Medicare after 24 months
Insurance (DI) and OASI Trust Funds. The total Social
of entitlement to SSDI (29 full consecutive months after
Security payroll tax rate is 12.4% of a worker’s earnings:
their disability onset date). This requirement is known as
1.8% for the DI Trust Fund and 10.6% for the OASI Trust
the 24-month waiting period and does not apply to disabled
Fund. The payroll tax is levied on earnings up to an annual
workers aged 65 to FRA or to disabled workers below age
limit, which for 2023 is $160,200. The trust funds also
65 who have ALS or end-stage renal disease.
receive income from the taxation of a portion of some
Social Security benefits and from interest earned on U.S.
Termination of Benefits
securities credited to the trust funds for years in which total
In general, SSDI benefits continue until a disabled worker
income exceeded total cost.
(1) dies, (2) attains FRA, (3) medically improves, or (4)
In 2022, total income to the Social Security trust funds was
returns to work (i.e., earns above the SGA limit). Most
$1.222 trillion, with $165 billion (or 14%) credited to the
disabled workers who leave the SSDI rolls do so because
DI Trust Fund. That same year, total cost for the trust funds
they attain FRA. Disabled workers who attain FRA are
was $1.244 trillion, with $147 billion (or 12%) debited
transitioned automatically from SSDI to OASI; however,
from the DI Trust Fund. The trust funds held a combined
this change generally does not affect the amount of Social
$2.830 trillion in asset reserves at the end of 2022, with
Security benefits paid to them or their dependents.
$118 billion (or 4%) credited to the DI Trust Fund.
Working While on SSDI
The Social Security trustees project that under current law
Disabled workers are afforded a trial work period (TWP),
and under their 2023 intermediate assumptions, the trust
which allows them to test their ability to work for up to nine
funds on a hypothetical combined basis will be able to pay
months (not necessarily consecutive) within a rolling 60-
benefits in full and on time until 2034. Individually, the
month period without having their benefits suspended or
OASI Trust Fund is projected to be depleted in 2033, while
terminated. During the TWP, disabled workers may earn
the DI Trust Fund is projected to have sufficient income to
any amount and receive their full benefits, even if their
pay benefits in full and on time throughout the 75-year
earnings exceed the SGA limit. In 2023, any month in
projection period (i.e., through at least 2097).
which a disabled worker’s earnings exceed $1,050 is
counted toward the cumulative nine-month TWP. (This
Characteristics of Disabled Workers
amount is adjusted annually for average wage growth.)
SSDI provides benefits primarily to older workers. In
December 2021, nearly 78% of disabled workers were aged
Disabled workers who exhaust the TWP enter an extended
50 to FRA. The most common diagnostic group for
period of eligibility (EPE), which allows them to continue
disabled workers aged 50 to FRA was musculoskeletal
to receive benefits for months in which their earnings are at
disorders, while the most common diagnostic group for
or below the SGA limit. During the first 36 months of the
those below age 50 was mental disorders (Figure 1).
EPE, known as the reentitlement period, benefits are
Figure 1. Disabled Workers, by Diagnostic Group and
effectively suspended for months in which earnings exceed
Age Group, December 2021
the SGA limit. Disabled workers who earn above the SGA
limit after the 36-month reentitlement period are considered
no longer disabled, and their benefits are terminated.
(Under a special grace period, benefits are paid for the first
month in which earnings exceed the SGA limit during the
EPE and the next two months, regardless of disability-
cessation status or the level of earnings during the latter two
months.) Disabled workers who are terminated due to
earnings above the SGA limit but who continue to have a
qualifying impairment retain Medicare coverage for at least
57 months following the end of the 36-month reentitlement
period.
Program Integrity
SSA periodically reevaluates the medical status of disabled
workers by conducting continuing disability reviews
(CDRs). Disabled workers with impairments that may
improve are scheduled for CDRs at least once every three
years, and those with the most severe impairments are
scheduled for CDRs at least once every five to seven years.
SSA also performs work CDRs to determine if disabled
Source: SSA, Annual Statistical Report on the Social Security Disability
workers are earning above the SGA limit and if their
Insurance Program, 2021, Table 24.
entitlement to benefits should continue.
Notes: “Nervous System” includes sense organ diseases;
“Musculoskeletal Disorders” includes connective tissue diseases.
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
IF10506
William R. Morton, Analyst in Income Security
Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to
congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress.
Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has
been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the
United States Government, are not subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be
reproduced and distributed in its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include
copyrighted images or material from a third party, you may need to obtain the permission of the copyright holder if you
wish to copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.
https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF10506 · VERSION 8 · UPDATED