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MoreSSDI Back Pay: How Much You're Owed
SSDI back pay is what Social Security owes you for the months between when your disability began and when you're approved — often a five-figure lump sum. It's calculated from your onset date minus a 5-month wait, and can reach up to 17 months before you applied.
Social Security Cuts by State: The 2032 Numbers
If Congress doesn’t act before the trust fund runs short in 2032, benefits would be cut about 24% across the board — an average of $500 a month. A state-by-state analysis shows cuts ranging from $459 to $556, hitting the oldest states hardest. See your state’s numbers.
Could Raising the Payroll Tax Save Social Security?
Raising Social Security’s 12.4% payroll tax is one of the few levers big enough to close its funding gap. The 2026 Trustees Report puts that gap at 4.42% of taxable payroll — meaning the rate would need to reach about 16.8% to fund full benefits for 75 years. Here’s what that would cost.
SSDI and Medicare: How the 24-Month Wait Really Works
Medicare doesn’t start when your SSDI is approved — it starts 24 months after your benefits are dated to begin. Because a disability claim is backdated to when you became disabled, a slow decision or a won appeal can mean much of that wait is already behind you.
Two Bipartisan Plans to Fix Social Security
Two new bipartisan proposals to shore up Social Security are getting attention: one would lift the cap on wages subject to the payroll tax, the other would borrow $1.5 trillion to invest in the markets. Neither is law. Here’s what each would do — and the criticism each faces.
A New Bill Would Repeal Social Security’s Earnings Test
A bill in Congress would scrap the rule that withholds benefits from people who claim early and keep working. It’s not law — and there’s a catch most coverage skips: those withheld benefits aren’t actually lost. Here’s what it would do and the trade-offs.
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