In our last post, we outlined how the Social Security Administration evaluates applications for Social Security Disability benefits, which are made available to adults who are unable to work for at least 12 consecutive months due to a serious illness or disability. In this post, we will move on from that stage to discuss how the amount of benefits a disabled person receives is calculated.

The general rule of thumb is that recipients' benefits are based on their work history. Workers generally must have earned 40 "credits" by working in "covered" employment prior to his or her injury or illness. How much the person must have earned to receive a credit for that income depends on the year in which it was earned.

The SSA examines the applicant's income in the years leading up to the disability to calculate his or her primary insurance amount, also known as the PIA. Though not always, the benefits the SSA grants are usually 100 percent of PIA as if he or she had worked until retirement age. Retirement age depends on when the applicant was born. It gradually increases up to age 67, which is currently used for those born in 1960 or later.

Unfortunately, applications for Social Security disability are frequently rejected. There is an appeals process that those whose application was denied can go through, so the denial is not the end of the road. Using an experienced Social Security disability attorney to guide you through the process and argue your case on your behalf can help increase your odds of being awarded benefits on appeal.

Source: The Redding Record Searchlight, "Primer on Social Security disability benefits," Lewis Chamberlain, Dec. 4, 2011