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Texas has a substantial number of disabled people living within the state’s borders. In fact, a 2019 report revealed that Texas has the second largest number of disabled individuals of all the U.S. In total, 11.8% of the Texas population has a disability.
In many cases, these disabilities prevent Texans from earning income to support themselves. When that happens, it is important to understand the availability of disability benefits.
This guide to Texas disability benefits in 2023 explains all of the options available so if you or a loved one is disabled, you can get the money you need and deserve.
What Are the Options for Texas Disability Benefits in 2023?
In a minority of states, there are state-based disability benefits programs open to the general public. Texas is not one of those states.
This does not mean there are no available protections for disabled workers, though.
Employees of the state of Texas and some higher education institutions can choose to enroll in the Texas Income Protection Plan to get short-term and long-term disability coverage. Workers who are employed by private companies may be able to get disability insurance either as an employment-related benefit provided by their companies or they can choose to purchase disability insurance directly from private insurers.
Texas employers who contract with government entities are required to provide workers’ compensation, although workers’ comp isn’t required for all employers (unlike in most other locations throughout the U.S.). For employees whose companies are required to or have chosen to buy workers’ compensation insurance, temporary or lifetime income benefits may be available in case of full or partial disabilities resulting from the performance of job tasks.
Workers in Texas can also qualify for federal disability benefits available through the Social Security Administration. These benefits can be an important lifeline.
Private Disability Insurance
Many insurers offer disability benefits coverage to Texas residents. Your employer may pay or subsidize premiums and allow you to enroll as one of your workplace benefits (similar to the way you may buy health or life insurance through your employer). You can also choose to shop around for private disability insurance coverage on your own.
If you have a disability policy in place before you become too disabled to work, you are able to make a claim as long as you meet your policy’s definition of disabled. Some policies cover both short-term and long-term disabilities while others cover only one or the other. The specific percentage of income your policy replaces will also depend on the terms of your policy.
Check with your insurance carrier about the application process to take advantage of this option.
Workers' Compensation Disability Insurance
If your employer has opted into (or is required to participate in) the workers’ compensation system, this is a source of Texas disability benefits in 2023 if you become sick or hurt as a direct result of your job duties. If you qualify, you could receive:
- Temporary Income Benefits (TIBs): If a work-related illness or injury causes lost wages for more than seven days, these benefits become available. They pay 70% of the difference between the average weekly wage you were earning pre-disability and the amount you earn after becoming sick or hurt.
- Impairment Income Benefits (IIBs): These benefits are available based on the impairment rating assigned to you by a medical professional. You get a certain number of weeks of benefits based on your impairment rating, with the benefits equal to 70% of your average weekly wage.
- Supplemental Income Benefits (SIBs): When Impairment Income Benefits end, you become eligible for supplemental benefits if your impairment rating exceeds 15% or more and if you either don’t return to work or you can only return to a job where you earn less than 80% of your pre-disability average weekly wage. SIBs equal 80% of the difference between 80% of your average weekly wage and the amount you earn post-injury.
- Lifetime Income Benefits (LIBs): These benefits equal 75% of your average weekly wage prior to your injuries, with a 3% increase annually. They are available only if you have specific injuries including but not limited to total and permanent loss of sight in both eyes, traumatic brain injury, paralysis, loss of both feet above the ankle or loss of both hands above the wrist.
If you hope to receive these benefits after suffering a work-related injury in Texas, talk with a Texas workers’ compensation lawyer. Your attorney will help you understand which benefits you are eligible for and will assist you in navigating the workers’ compensation system.
Social Security Disability Benefits
Texas residents may qualify for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits if they meet the requirements. There are two different benefits programs offered through the Social Security Administration to disabled individuals. They include Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Social Security Disability Insurance
SSDI benefits are earned benefits. You can earn up to four work credits per year when you work and pay Social Security taxes. If you have earned enough work credits (the specific amount you need is determined based on your age when you become disabled), you qualify for SSDI benefits. They are not means tested, so you can get them even with substantial financial resources.
To qualify for SSDI benefits, you must:
- Have a long-term condition. This means it has lasted 12 months, will last that long, or is terminal.
- Have a qualifying disability with associated symptoms. Your condition must be listed on the Social Security Administration’s Listing of Impairments (commonly referred to as the “Blue Book”) and you must have any specific symptoms of your condition mentioned on the List. If your condition isn’t listed, it must be as severe as those that are.
- Be unable to work due to your disability. You must be substantially impaired by it and unable to do any job you’re qualified for.
- Not be engaged in substantial gainful activity (SGA) defined as earning above a certain amount ($2,460 for blind individuals or $1,470 for those who aren’t blind, as of 2023).
If you qualify, your benefits will equal a percentage of average wages earned. You can apply online for benefits, but should know many people initially have their claims denied so you may need to go through an appeals process. A disability benefits lawyer can help.
Supplemental Security Income
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is available to disabled people as well as to blind people and people over the age of 65. It’s based on financial need, though, so if your income is too high or you have $2,000 or more in countable resources (or $3,000 as a couple), you won’t qualify for these benefits.
The requirements to qualify with a disability are generally the same as for SSDI recipients in terms of needing a long-term qualifying disabled condition. However, unlike SSDI, the monthly income you receive isn’t determined by past wages but is instead set by law. In 2023, you can get up to $914 but this is reduced if you have countable earned or unearned income.
Get Help With Texas Disability Benefits in 2023
An experienced disability benefits lawyer will assist you in identifying all of the potential Texas disability benefits in 2023 that are available to you. If you cannot work due to a medical issue, reach out to an attorney ASAP to get help finding benefits that will provide for your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How much will my disability check go up in 2023?
If you are receiving disability benefits from the Social Security Administration, you will receive an 8.7% Cost of Living Adjustment in 2023. COLAs are built into the benefits program to automatically increase your benefits when a certain consumer price index reveals that prices have gone up. Your benefits increase is based on how much inflation is shown by the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers.
What is the income limit for SSDI in 2023?
You cannot qualify for SSDI if you are engaged in substantial gainful activity. In 2023, this is defined as earning at least $1,470 for individuals who aren’t blind or $2,460 for blind individuals. SSDI is not a means-tested benefit, though, so if you aren’t personally earning money but you have a lot of income in your household (or a lot of financial resources), you could still get SSDI provided you meet all the requirements for it.
Is it hard to get disability in Texas?
Disability benefits in Texas usually come from the Social Security Administration through SSDI or SSI. There is a strict definition of disabled that you have to meet to qualify for these benefits programs. Many people find their claim is denied, at least initially, but they get it approved through an appeals process with help from a disability benefits lawyer.
FAQs
How much more disability will i get in 2023? ›
According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), the 2023 COLA will increase the average monthly SSDI benefit for a disabled worker by $119, from $1,364 to $1,483. About 1.25 million family members also receive SSDI on the earnings record of a disabled spouse, former spouse or parent.
What are the disability changes for 2023? ›How much is SSDI going up in 2023? SSDI benefits payments are increasing 8.7% for 2023, meaning all SSDI recipients will automatically get a monthly check that's worth 8.7% more than in 2022. How much higher will SSI checks be in 2023? Monthly SSI benefits are also increasing 8.7% from 2022 to 2023.
How much can I earn in 2023 without affecting my disability benefits? ›You can earn up to $2,460 a month in 2023 before your earnings may affect your benefits.
Will everyone on disability get a raise in 2023? ›SSDI recipients receive the same cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, that other beneficiaries receive. That means in 2023, anyone who receives Social Security disability benefits will see their monthly check increase by 8.7%.
How to calculate SSDI increase 2023? ›In order to calculate your benefit amount, you multiply 1.087 by your current benefit amount. For instance, if your monthly payment is $1,200, we would multiply that figure by 1.087, which equals $1,304, an increase of $104.
How do I get the $16728 Social Security bonus? ›To acquire the full amount, you need to maximize your working life and begin collecting your check until age 70. Another way to maximize your check is by asking for a raise every two or three years. Moving companies throughout your career is another way to prove your worth, and generate more money.
Do you get a tax refund if you are on disability 2023? ›Receiving SSDI or SSI benefits doesn't prevent you from receiving a tax refund.
Will SSDI be cut in 2023? ›Social Security's "cost-of-living adjustment" (COLA) for 2023 increases disability payments for SSDI and SSI recipients by 8.7%.
How much money can a person on disability have in the bank? ›The SSDI program does not limit how much money you can have in the bank because there are no resource limits as you find with SSI.
What would cause me to lose my disability benefits? ›The most common reason for someone to lose SSI benefits is having too much income—whether through working or some other source.
At what age does Social Security disability turn into regular Social Security? ›
Social Security Disability can stay active for as long as you're disabled. If you receive benefits until age 65, your SSDI benefits will stop, and your retirement benefits will begin. In other words, your SSDI benefits change to Social Security retirement benefits.
Will my disability benefits change when I turn 65? ›your disability benefits automatically convert to retirement benefits, but the amount remains the same. If you also receive a reduced widow(er)'s benefit, be sure to contact Social Security when you reach full retirement age, so that we can make any necessary adjustment in your benefits.
How much is SSDI in Texas 2023? ›The monthly maximum Federal amounts for 2023 are $914 for an eligible individual, $1,371 for an eligible individual with an eligible spouse, and $458 for an essential person.
What is the projected SSDI COLA for 2023? ›Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for approximately 70 million Americans will increase 8.7 percent in 2023.
What is the lowest SSDI payment? ›For 2021, monthly payments can range all the way from $100 per month to $3,148 per month. While $100 per month would be the lowest monthly payment that could be received for disability, it is unlikely your amount would be exactly that.
Can I get a bonus while on disability? ›Long term disability benefits are usually based on what you were earning at the time of your disability, not on potential future income. This means that any bonuses or other extra compensation received after filing your claim will not affect your benefits.
What is the Social Security bonus trick? ›Claiming “early,” at age 62, will result in the permanent reduction of your Social Security checks by up to 30%. Waiting until age 70, however, has the opposite effect. For every year that you delay claiming past full retirement age, your monthly benefits will get an 8% “bonus.”
What is the Social Security loophole? ›The Restricted Application Loophole
Every year you delay, your monthly retirement benefit increases (until age 70). One Social Security loophole allowed married individuals to begin receiving a spousal benefit at full retirement age, while letting their own retirement benefit grow.
In most cases, Disability Insurance (DI) benefits are not taxable.
What can I claim if I'm disabled? ›- What disability and sickness benefits can I claim?
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and other disability benefits.
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- Attendance Allowance.
- Help with housing costs.
- Other benefits you might be entitled to.
- If you've got income or savings.
- Benefits for carers.
Will I get a tax return if I was on disability? ›
You may get a tax refund on disability in certain situations if you don't owe, but file claiming certain tax credits. For example, you may get a credit for being disabled if you received benefits from an employer insurance or pension plan.
Does disability watch your bank account? ›Social Security: Can the SSA Check Your Bank Accounts if You're On Disability? The Social Security Administration can only check your bank accounts if you have allowed them to do so. For those receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the SSA can check your bank account because they were given permission.
Can you have two bank accounts on disability? ›The good news is that you can have a bank account and be eligible to receive Social Security Disability benefits as long as you meet the other eligibility requirements. The Social Security Administration does not limit the number or value of resources or assets you may own.
Can I transfer my disability money to my bank account? ›You may choose to transfer some or all of your benefits to your checking or savings account by performing a direct deposit transfer. Information regarding direct deposit transfers is available on the debit card page.
Can you live off disability? ›Living and surviving on only SSDI is possible. However, making ends meet with disability benefits alone can be a challenge. It's important to know how to make the most of your benefits and consider other income or benefit sources. Budgeting and minimizing your monthly costs can make it easier to live on SSDI alone.
What if my disability check is not enough? ›When your disability check isn't enough to live on, you may have additional options at your disposal. For example, you may qualify for extra help in specific areas such as health care costs, food, and housing. Different federal, state, and local programs may be available.
What is the number 1 cause of disability? ›In the United States, pain, depression, and anxiety are among the most common causes of years lived with disability (YLD). disorders, autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, conduct disorder, and other mental and substance abuse.
How often does Social Security review your disability? ›If improvement is expected, your first review generally will be six to 18 months after the date you became disabled. If improvement is possible, but can't be predicted, we'll review your case about every three years. If improvement is not expected, we'll review your case every seven years.
Can you draw Social Security and disability at the same time? ›Many individuals are eligible for benefits under both the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs at the same time. We use the term “concurrent” when individuals are eligible for benefits under both programs.
At what age does Social Security disability stop reviewing? ›Social Security disability reviews stop when you reach full retirement age, which is currently 66 years old. At full retirement age, the SSA will assess your eligibility for continued disability benefits and review any changes to your medical condition or income.
What happens when you turn 62 and are on disability? ›
Social Security disability benefits automatically change to retirement benefits when disability beneficiaries become full retirement age. The law does not allow a person to receive both retirement and disability benefits on one earnings record at the same time.
Will disability benefits increase next year? ›See how much you can earn in this Social Security Disability Benefits Pay Chart guide. Good news! The SSA announced an 8.7 percent cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) for 2023. This is a significant increase from 5.9 percent in 2022.
Is Medicare age changing to 67? ›But over the last couple of years, the Social Security Administration (SSA) changed the full retirement age twice – first to age 66 for people born from 1948 to 1954, then again to age 67 for people born in 1955 or later.
What is the COLA raise for 2023 for disabled Social Security recipients? ›Each year, Social Security bases the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) on changes in the Consumer Price Index. For 2023, Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security (SSI) payments will increase by 8.7%.
How much is 100 VA disability 2023? ›| Combined VA Rating | 2023 VA Compensation Rates (8.7% increase) | 2021 VA Compensation Rates |
|---|---|---|
| 70% | $1,663.06 | $1,444.71 |
| 80% | $1,933.15 | $1,679.35 |
| 90% | $2,172.39 | $1,887.18 |
| 100% | $3,621.95 | $3,146.42 |
Last Updated: October 13, 2022
Approximately 70 million Americans will see a 8.7% increase in their Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments in 2023. On average, Social Security benefits will increase by more than $140 per month starting in January.
SSI amounts for 2023
The monthly maximum Federal amounts for 2023 are $914 for an eligible individual, $1,371 for an eligible individual with an eligible spouse, and $458 for an essential person.
Social Security Disability recipients do not receive a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) every year. A Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) is only added to your benefit amount if the Consumer Price Index has gone up in the prior year.
How many veterans have a 100% disability rating? ›A single 100% rating means that the condition you're experiencing is severe and totally disabling. A combined rating of 100% is not a total disability because a person may be able to maintain substantially gainful employment with a combined 100%. More than a million veterans receive benefits at the 100% rate.
Will disabled veterans get a cost-of-living increase in 2023? ›The 2022 COLA hike was 5.9%. The adjustment for 2023 means a disabled veteran with a 10% VA rating can expect to see about $13.28 more each month, and a 100% disabled veteran with no dependents will receive $300 more per payment.
Is 70% PTSD a permanent VA disability? ›
The veteran's total disability due to PTSD is permanent with no likelihood of improvement. The 100 percent rating for PTSD is total, permanent, and static in nature.