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.
More than 300,000 people in Ohio benefit from federal disability benefits programs, including Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The amount beneficiaries receive depends on several factors, like work history and income level. Keep reading to learn about benefits calculations and the maximum payments for disability recipients in Ohio.
The maximum payment amount for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) in 2024 is $3,822. For Supplemental Security Income (SSI), an individual can receive up to $943 monthly.
A recipient's work history and income level can impact the amount of disability benefits they get. The average payout in Ohio is $1665 per month for SSDI, and $625 for SSI.
In addition to monthly cash benefits, Social Security benefits include healthcare coverage. SSDI recipients qualify for Medicare and SSI recipients for Medicaid.
Learn more about the eligibility requirements for SSDI and SSI in our extensive guide.
To calculate SSDI benefits, the SSA starts with your Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME), which reflects your earnings over the years, adjusted for inflation. This step ensures that changes in the cost of living are included in the SSA’s calculations. Next, the SSA will determine your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) by dividing your AIME into three segments, each multiplied by a different percentage.
Although complex, this calculation is designed to accurately reflect your contributions to Social Security over your working years. Ultimately, the amount you receive is directly linked to how much you’ve earned and contributed to the system over time.
Rather than evaluating work history, the SSA calculates SSI amounts based on an applicant’s financial needs. They start with the maximum federal benefit rate ($943 in 2024) and subtract any of the applicant’s countable income.
Countable income includes wages, but can also include forms of passive income, benefits from other assistance programs, and even the economic value of living arrangements provided by others. That said, not all income is counted against the SSI benefit amount. For example, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits do not count as income for SSI.
To understand how your SSI benefits are calculated, including what the SSA considers as countable income, read this detailed guide: How Much Can I Make on SSDI or SSI in 2024?
We'll use the Social Security Administration's formula to estimate your monthly benefit.
Average
monthly check
$1,489
According to the SSA, applicants are not required to hire a disability lawyer, but having one is a good idea. A disability attorney can help you with every step of the application process, from completing paperwork to navigating the appeals process. A lawyer can help you:
Fill out the disability application
Gather medical records
File for an appeal
Prepare you for a disability hearing in front of an administrative law judge
Represent you at a disability hearing
Generally, disability lawyers operate on a contingency basis, meaning they only collect fees if you win your case. This fee is capped at 25% of your initial benefits payment or $7,200, whichever is less.
The application process for disability benefits can be complicated, but Atticus can help. Take our quick 2-minute quiz to check your eligibility, and one of our team members will get in touch with you to offer you personalized advice about your case.
We can connect you with a qualified disability lawyer who will guide you through the application process. There are no upfront costs to work with Atticus — you only pay your lawyer a one-time fee when they win your benefits.
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.
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.
It takes an average of 6.1 months to get an initial disability decision in Ohio. 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
The average SSDI payment in Ohio is $1,303.69 per month. The average SSI payment is $636.07 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.
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.
No, Ohio 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 Ohio can apply for federal disability programs (SSDI and SSI). Read more about SSDI and SSI here.
How long has your condition made it hard to work?
Jackie Jakab
Lead Attorney
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