How Much Are Disability Benefits in Indiana?
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.
In Indiana, more than 215,000 people receive financial and medical support from the Social Security Administration. If you have an injury or illness that prevents you from returning to work, you may also qualify for healthcare coverage and monthly disability checks through the SSA’s two disability programs: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Learn more about how much you can receive in disability benefits in Indiana and what you can expect to pay if you hire a disability lawyer.
How much are disability benefits in Indiana?
The maximum federal disability payment for SSDI is $3,822 per month and $943 monthly for SSI. SSDI recipients are eligible for Medicare while SSI recipients are eligible for Medicaid.
The amount you’ll receive in monthly disability checks depends on several factors including your work history and income. But on average, Indiana residents receive $1,728.61 through Social Security Disability Insurance and $615.55 through Supplemental Security Income.
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Average
monthly check
$1,489
How the SSA calculates SSDI in Indiana
To determine how much you’d receive in SSDI monthly benefits, you need to know your Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME).
The Average Indexed Monthly Earnings is the average of the money you’ve earned while working. The SSA considers the 35 years that you earned the most income and adjusts that number for inflation.
From there, the SSA splits your AIME into three slices, each multiplied by a different percentage. When you add up those three numbers, you get your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), or how much your monthly benefits will be.
You can create a free SSA account if you want to check your SSDI payment amount without ever having to reach for a calculator. Setting up your account only takes 15 minutes. With your SSA account, you can see your income history, your work credits (for SSDI eligibility, you need at least 40 work credits), and your retirement benefits status. In addition, you can review your record and ensure there are no errors that need correcting.
How the SSA calculates SSI in Indiana?
As a needs-based federal benefits program, Indiana SSI monthly benefits depend on your financial needs instead of your work earnings. There are two things you need to know to accurately calculate your SSI monthly payment:
The maximum federal benefit amount
Your countable income
Countable income falls into four categories: Earned, unearned, in-kind, or deemed.
Earned income: This is what you’ve earned from working, whether it’s wages from an employer or your earnings from a business you own.
Unearned income: This covers sources of income you receive from not working a job (i.e. unemployment, pension, state payment programs etc).
In-kind income: This is the value of food and housing you receive for free through state or federal assistance or from a relative or friend.
Deemed income: This is income the SSA believes you share with the person who lives with you (i.e. a spouse).
Your monthly SSI benefit is the maximum federal benefit amount ($943) minus your countable income.
How much does a disability lawyer cost in Indiana?
If you decide to hire a disability lawyer, you will have a free consultation to determine the possibility of your disability claim being approved. If the lawyer determines you have a chance, they will decide which benefit program best suits your case and have you sign a contingency fee agreement.
A contingency agreement states you won’t have to pay anything upfront until the SSA approves your disability case and sends your first check. Your first check will likely consist of “back pay,” which is money the government owes you from the onset of your disability to the day it approves you for benefits. Your lawyer can collect up to 25% of your first disability benefit check.
Get help applying for benefits
Find out if you are eligible for federal disability benefits. Take our 2-minute quiz and our client advocate will share important (and free) information on your disability claim. They can even connect you with a disability lawyer — with no cost upfront.
You shouldn’t need a lawyer to win disability benefits. However, the SSA denies the majority of initial disability claims. A disability lawyer can triple your chances of getting approved. In addition, a disability lawyer can:
Provide expert advice on how to navigate each stage of the application, appeal, and hearing process.
Determine which disability program(s) you’d best qualify for.
Advocate for you during a court hearing and prove to the judge that you can’t work due to your medical condition or injury.
Frequently asked questions about benefits in Indiana
How do I qualify for disability in Indiana?
To qualify for disability you need to have a condition that prevents you from working for at least a year. You’ll also need to meet certain work history requirements (for SSDI) or be within certain income limits (for SSI). For more on these requirements, read our full write up here.
What conditions qualify for disability in Indiana?
Any condition that will prevent 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.
How long does it take to get approved for disability in Indiana?
It takes an average of 6.1 months to get an initial disability decision in Indiana. Most people who apply are initially rejected, and need to appeal this decision. If you appeal and go to a hearing, the process takes around two years on average. Read more: How Long It Takes to Get Approved for Disability Benefits
How much does disability pay in Indiana?
The average SSDI payment in Indiana is $1,355.25 per month. The average SSI payment is $580.90 per month. What you’ll earn is dependent on your income, or the amount you’ve historically paid into the Social Security program. Read more on what amount you can expect.
How should I prepare my disability application in Indiana?
Answer the application questions truthfully, consistently, and succinctly. You should also ensure that you 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.
Does Indiana have a state disability program?
No, Indiana doesn't have a state disability program. Only five states (California, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island) have a state program. Residents of Indiana can apply for federal disability programs (SSDI and SSI). Read more about SSDI and SSI here.
Related resources:
Indiana Disability Benefits
SSA Offices in Indiana
How long has your condition made it hard to work?
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