Atticus offers free, high-quality disability advice for Americans who can't work. Our team of Stanford and Harvard-trained lawyers has a combined 15+ years of legal experience and has helped over 50,000 Americans apply for disability benefits.
If you live in Georgia and cannot work because of an injury or illness, you may qualify for Social Security disability benefits. According to the Social Security Administration’s latest data, more than 200,000 Georgians receive disability benefits.
Getting a monthly check from the SSA can be life-changing. Read on to learn how much you can receive with disability payments in Georgia.
The amount of disability benefits you can receive monthly in Georgia depends on the disability program you qualify for. The SSA administers two federal disability programs: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Both programs offer benefits payments and healthcare coverage, but the qualifications and payment amounts differ. In 2024, the maximum amount you can receive for SSDI is $3,822 per month, and $943 per month for SSI.
The payment amount you can receive for disability benefits in Georgia depends on the program you qualify for. Your earnings history, income, and assets help determine your exact payment amount.
Benefits Program | Average Payment Amount in GA | Maximum Payment Amount |
---|---|---|
Supplemental Security Income | $597.72 per month | $943 per month |
Social Security Disability Insurance | $1,702.77 per month | $3,822 per month |
The SSA uses a formula to calculate your monthly payment amounts. In brief, the amount of money you pay into Social Security taxes during your working years determines how much you can receive in benefits.
First, the SSA calculates your Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME) from your highest-earning years and adjusts this number for inflation. The SSA uses your AIME to determine your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), separated into three segments. This step is where the math gets confusing — check out our complete guide on how the SSA calculates your monthly SSDI check.
The easiest way to verify your eligibility and determine your estimated SSDI benefits amount is to create an SSA account on SSA.gov.
We'll use the Social Security Administration's formula to estimate your monthly benefit.
Average
monthly check
$1,489
The Social Security Administration calculates monthly SSI payments based on an individual’s need rather than their earnings history. The SSA will subtract your countable income — like cash and public benefits — from a federal benefit rate.
The federal benefit rate is $943 in 2024. If your countable income is less than the federal benefit rate, you can receive $943 monthly in SSI benefits. Check out this article for more information on how the SSA calculates SSI payments.
There are no upfront costs to working with a disability lawyer on your disability benefits application. Disability attorneys work on a contingency basis, meaning you only pay them if the SSA approves your claim and you win benefits. You pay your lawyer 25% of your first benefits check, and the SSA caps this fee at $7,200.
You are three times more likely to win benefits with a lawyer. A disability lawyer can help gather your medical records, complete the application paperwork, file for an appeal, and even represent you at a disability hearing. Call Atticus today for advice about your claim, and connect with a lawyer if you’d like — there are no upfront costs.
There are 33 SSA offices throughout the state of Georgia, from Athens to Winder. Click below to find the office nearest you:
Albany 1522 W 3Rd Ave Albany, GA 31707 Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00AM - 4:00PM Phone Number: (877) 319-0733 Fax Number: (833) 950-2562 | Athens 1650 Prince Ave Athens, GA 30606 Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00AM - 4:00PM Phone Number: (866) 964-3294 Fax Number: (833) 950-2566 | Atlanta 3800 Camp Creek Pkwy Bldg 2400 Ste 122 Atlanta, GA 30331 Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00AM - 4:00PM Phone Number: (877) 828-1694 Fax Number: (833) 913-2075
|
Atlanta 401 W Peachtree St Nw Ste 2860 Flr 28 Atlanta, GA 30308 Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00AM - 4:00PM Phone Number: (866) 931-9946 Fax Number: (833) 950-2558 | Augusta 115 Robert C Daniel Jr Pkwy Augusta, GA 30909 Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00AM - 4:00PM Phone Number: (877) 616-2523 Fax Number: (833) 950-2570
| Brunswick 134 Juniper Ct Brunswick, GA 31520 Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00AM - 4:00PM Phone Number: (866) 964-6563 Fax Number: (833) 950-2866
|
Columbus 7263 North Lake Dr Columbus, GA 31909 Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00AM - 4:00PM Phone Number: (877) 784-3688 Fax Number: (833) 950-2568 | Cordele 510 E 15Th Ave Cordele, GA 31015 Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00AM - 4:00PM Phone Number: (888) 225-8869 Fax Number: (833) 597-0062 |
Here are a few Atticus firms in Georgia:
Matthew T. Berry & Associates, LLC 2751 Buford Hwy NE, Suite 600, Atlanta, Georgia 30324 | Westmoreland, Patterson, Moseley & Hinson, L.L.P. 577 Mulberry St., Suite 600, Macon, Georgia 31201 | Rogers, Hofrichter & Karrh, LLC 225 Glynn St. S, Suite 1, Fayetteville, Georgia 30214 |
To qualify for disability, you must have a condition preventing you from working for at least a year. You’ll also need to meet specific work history requirements (for SSDI) or be within certain income limits (for SSI). For more on these requirements, read our full write-up here.
Any condition preventing you from working for a year or more can qualify for disability benefits. Some of the most common conditions include musculoskeletal disorders, mental disorders, nervous system diseases, and circulatory system diseases. See our full list of conditions that qualify here.
It takes an average of 7 months to get an initial disability decision in Georgia. Most people who apply are initially rejected and need to appeal this decision. If you appeal and go to a hearing, the process can take nearly two years. Read more: How Long Does it Take to Get Approved for Disability benefits?
In 2024, the average SSDI payment in Georgia is $1,702.77 per month. The average SSI payment is $597.72. What you’ll earn depends on your income or the amount you’ve historically paid into the Social Security program. Read more on what amount you can expect.
Answer the application questions truthfully, consistently, and succinctly. You should also gather and submit all your medical records with your application. The SSA paperwork can be complicated, so our legal team has written a full guide to the application here.
Getting disability benefits in Georgia is a complex, often long process. A few things can make it easier: Being over 50, having a particularly severe condition (on the SSA’s “compassionate allowance list”), or working with a disability lawyer. Read more: 5 signs that you’ll be approved for disability benefits.
How long has your condition made it hard to work?
Jackie Jakab
Lead Attorney
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