SSDI calculation for 42-year-old with MS and two minor children - how much can we expect?

His primary insurance amount (PIA) will be based on his lifetime earnings record with SSA, not just his recent salary. Each dependent child can receive up to 50% of his PIA, but there's a family maximum that caps the total amount all beneficiaries on his record can receive (usually 150-180% of his PIA). For the exact amount, he should create a my Social Security account and check his estimated benefits there. When I was trying to reach SSA about my own SSDI application, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that actually got me through to an agent in about 20 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours or getting disconnected. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. Saved me a ton of frustration when I needed specific answers about my family benefits.

my husband has MS to. it took almost 2 years to get approved and we had a lawyer!!! the kids benefits start same time as his does but you have to actually apply for them its not automatic. the wait time for kids is the same 5 months i think

As someone who works with SSDI claimants, I can provide some accurate information: 1) Your brother-in-law's SSDI benefit will be based on his average indexed monthly earnings over his working lifetime, not just recent years. At 42 with steady employment, his Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) might be around $2,300-2,700 monthly based on the salary you mentioned. 2) His children are eligible for auxiliary benefits up to 50% of his PIA each, but the family maximum will likely cap the total at 150-180% of his PIA. 3) There's a 5-month waiting period for SSDI benefits from onset date, but children's benefits would begin at the same time his benefits start. 4) Multiple Sclerosis is indeed on the Compassionate Allowance List, but only certain severe presentations qualify for expedited processing. His neurologist should document functional limitations thoroughly. 5) The decision timeline still varies widely - from 3 months to 2+ years depending on evidence quality and case complexity.

I'm confused about something - I thought SSI and SSDI were the same thing? Which one should he be applying for if he has minor kids? And does his wife's income matter for the calculation?

The SSA's benefit calculation is INCREDIBLY complex. I spent hours trying to figure it out when my wife became disabled. Essentially: 1. SSA averages your 35 highest earning years (adjusted for inflation) 2. Applies a formula with bend points to calculate PIA 3. Each child can get up to 50% of the disabled worker's PIA 4. BUT there's a family maximum that limits total benefits Based on $68k salary and age 42, your brother-in-law might receive around $2,400-2,600 per month, and each child perhaps $1,200-1,300, BUT the family maximum might reduce those amounts. MS cases can be approved quickly IF the case is severe and well-documented. My wife's friend with MS was approved in 2 months, while another person I know took 18 months. The difference was in the medical documentation and severity.

For disabled workers, SSA doesn't necessarily use 35 years - that's for retirement benefits. For SSDI, they use a calculation based on your working years from age 21 up to the year of disability, and they can exclude some low/no earning years. It's called the Disability Primary Insurance Amount calculation and works differently than retirement calculations. The formula essentially gives you credit for the years you would have worked had you not become disabled, which helps younger workers. That's why it's important to apply with complete earnings records.

CHECK HIS WORK CREDITS!!! my cousins husband got denied because he didn't have enough recent work credits even tho he worked for like 15 years but then took time off to be a stay at home dad for 3 years. you need to have worked 5 of the last 10 years i think

Thanks everyone for all this helpful info! I'm going to sit down with him this weekend to create a plan. We'll double-check his work credits, make sure his neurologist documents everything thoroughly with specific mention of the Compassionate Allowance List, and prepare for that 5-month waiting period. His MS symptoms have gotten really severe (mobility issues, extreme fatigue, cognitive problems), so hopefully that will help with getting approved faster. I'm also going to have him set up an appointment with SSA using that Claimyr service to get specific estimates for his situation. Really appreciate all the insights - this is such a stressful time for their family and having some idea of what to expect financially makes a huge difference.