How Much SSI Will I Get While Waiting For Disability?

How Much SSI Will I Get While Waiting For Disability?

Often, people apply for disability benefits because those benefits can make a significant difference between financial stability and a very stressful situation. It’s understandable, then, that it might be frustrating to deal with a delay while waiting to find out whether or not your claim is approved.

Unfortunately, for those who need benefits as soon as possible, there often is a waiting period of several months before the Social Security Administration issues a decision on a claim. There are many claims that must be processed each month – but that doesn’t make the waiting easy, especially if you are struggling financially.

The good news for those who are waiting is that there is a possibility to receive some financial support in the meantime. Let’s take a closer look at the law together.

What Types of Benefits Are Available?

The Social Security Administration offers two types of disability benefits to eligible applicants. These include:

  • Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits: The SSDI program is administered by the Social Security Administration and funded by employment taxes. For this reason, in order to receive SSDI benefits, an individual must be “insured.” This means that they regularly paid employment taxes into the Social Security system. In addition, an applicant must have a qualifying medical condition that has rendered them disabled for at least one continuous calendar year or more.
  • Supplemental Security Income Benefits: As with SSDI benefits, in order to receive SSI benefits, an applicant must have a qualifying medical condition that has rendered them disabled for at least one calendar year or more. Unlike the SSDI program, however, SSI is funded by general tax revenue and not employment taxes. As a result, those who apply for benefits need not be “insured.” They do, however, have to have income and resources below a certain annual limit established by the Social Security Administration.

Each type of benefit has a maximum monthly amount. In 2025, the maximum monthly amount of SSDI benefits is $4,018. The maximum SSI benefits are $967 per month per individual and $1,450 per month per couple.

How Long is the Waiting Period?

After you have submitted your application, the Social Security Office Administration will begin its review to determine whether your condition qualifies for benefits and how severely it impacts your life. Depending upon the complexity of your claim and the number of other claims being reviewed, it could take months for a decision to be issued on your claim. In the meantime, however, you may need financial support. The good news is that in certain cases, support may be available.

  • Presumptive Disability: For those seeking SSI benefits and awaiting a decision, the Social Security Administration might make presumptive disability payments for up to six months. A decision regarding presumptive disability payments is generally based on the severity of the condition, the evidence available at the time, and the likelihood that a claim will eventually be approved. Even if a claim is later denied, these benefits typically do not have to be repaid.
  • Emergency Advance Payments: Emergency advance payments are one-time payments intended for individuals who have applied for disability benefits and are facing financial emergencies in the meantime. Examples of such emergencies may include health emergencies or an emergency relating to the ability to continue to pay for shelter, food, clothing, or other needs. Generally, the emergency advance payment is subtracted from past payments owed, and the Social Security Administration pays the difference.
  • Immediate Payment: In some cases, the SSA may be able to make an immediate payment to new claimants, as well as those already receiving SSI and have benefits delayed or not received for some reason and have a financial emergency. The immediate payment generally cannot be higher than $999.
  • Expedited Reinstatement: An expedited reinstatement is typically an option for those who had benefits terminated because of excess earned income or some combination of earned and unearned income. Those in this situation can request to have benefits started again without having to file a new application.

Understandably, all of this information regarding payment options and waiting periods may seem confusing, and the law can certainly be complex. That’s why you need an expert legal team on your side to guide you through the process. At Muse Disability, we’re here to help.

Call Muse Disability Today

Waiting for approval of a disability claim can be stressful. There’s no question about it. The good news is that you can eliminate some of that stress by putting your case in good hands. When you choose the team at Muse Disability, you can trust that we’ll do all we can to pursue the benefits you need and deserve. We know and understand the law and are ready to put that knowledge to work for you. If you’re ready to get started, please call us today. We look forward to speaking with you soon.