
What Is the Average SSDI Payment After Reconsideration?
Quick Answer Overview: What Is the Average SSDI Payment After Reconsideration
What is the average SSDI payment after reconsideration? The payment amount remains the same as regular SSDI benefits, averaging $1,537 per month in 2024. However, only 16% of reconsideration requests get approved, making this stage challenging for most applicants.
If you’re approved at the reconsideration level, you’ll receive the same monthly payment you would have received if approved initially. Your payment depends on your lifetime earnings, not the approval stage.
The silver lining? Approved applicants receive substantial back pay covering months of waiting, often totaling thousands of dollars.
Understanding SSDI: Reconsideration Process Explained
The SSDI reconsideration process serves as the first appeal level when your initial application gets denied. A different examiner reviews your entire case, including any new evidence you submit.
This stage typically takes 3-5 months to complete. Most applicants submit Form SSA-561 within 60 days of receiving their denial letter. The process involves the same Disability Determination Services (DDS) office that handled your initial claim.
What is the average SSDI payment after reconsideration remains unchanged from regular SSDI calculations? Your monthly benefit stays tied to your Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME) and Primary Insurance Amount (PIA).
Payment Factors Impact: What Determines Your SSDI Amount
Several factors influence what is the average SSDI payment after reconsideration you’ll receive:
Your Earnings History
The Social Security Administration (SSA) calculates benefits using your highest 35 years of earnings. These wages get indexed for inflation, then averaged to determine your AIME.
Primary Insurance Amount Formula
Your PIA gets calculated using three percentage brackets:
- 90% of the first $1,174 of AIME
- 32% of earnings between $1,175-$7,078
- 15% of earnings above $7,078
Maximum and Minimum Amounts
The maximum SSDI payment reached $4,018 monthly in 2025, up from $3,822 in 2024. Most recipients receive significantly less than the maximum.
Success Rate Statistics: Average SSDI Payment After Reconsideration Outcomes
The statistics surrounding what is the average SSDI payment after reconsideration reveal challenging odds:
Reconsideration Approval Rates:
- Only 16% of reconsideration requests get approved
- 84% face another denial at this stage
- Success rates haven’t improved significantly over recent years
Payment Timeline After Approval:
- Monthly benefits begin shortly after approval
- Back pay covers waiting period (minus 5-month waiting period)
- First payment includes accumulated back benefits
- Additional retroactive benefits possible up to 12 months
- Medicare eligibility begins 24 months after approval through Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Comparative Success Rates:
- Initial applications: 38% approval rate
- Reconsideration: 16% approval rate
- Administrative Law Judge hearings: 51% approval rate
Most successful applicants eventually win at the hearing level, where what is the average SSDI payment after reconsideration becomes the same as hearing-level approvals.
Final Determination Summary: What Is the Average SSDI Payment After Reconsideration
What is the average SSDI payment after reconsideration mirrors standard SSDI amounts because payment calculations don’t change based on approval stage. The average monthly payment remains $1,537, with individual amounts varying based on earnings history.
Successful reconsideration applicants receive substantial back pay benefits. This lump-sum payment covers months between application filing and approval, minus the mandatory 5-month waiting period. Many recipients receive thousands in back pay.
The key challenge isn’t the payment amount—it’s achieving approval. With only 16% success rates, most applicants proceed to Administrative Law Judge hearings for better approval odds.
Get Help Today: What Is the Average SSDI Payment After Reconsideration Assistance
Don’t navigate the complex reconsideration process alone. What is the average SSDI payment after reconsideration becomes meaningless if you can’t achieve approval in the first place.
Professional legal guidance makes the difference between success and repeated denials. Our experienced disability attorneys know exactly how to strengthen medical documentation, address specific denial reasons, and build compelling cases that win.
Visit social security disability today to connect with qualified SSDI professionals who can evaluate your case at no cost. Remember, strict deadlines apply—you have only 60 days from receiving your denial letter to file for reconsideration.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How long does SSDI reconsideration take?
The reconsideration process typically takes 3-5 months from filing to decision. Processing times vary by state and case complexity.
2. Can I work while waiting for reconsideration?
You can work as long as earnings stay below $1,550 monthly in 2024 ($2,590 for blind individuals). Exceeding these limits may affect eligibility.
3. What happens if reconsideration gets denied?
You can request an Administrative Law Judge hearing within 60 days. This stage offers 51% approval rates, significantly better than reconsideration.
4. How much back pay will I receive?
Back pay covers months between application filing and approval, minus the 5-month waiting period. Amounts vary based on monthly benefit calculation and waiting time.
5. Should I get a lawyer for reconsideration?
While not required, legal representation significantly improves success rates at all appeal levels, including reconsideration.
Key Takeaways
- What is the average SSDI payment after reconsideration equals standard SSDI amounts, averaging $1,537 monthly in 2024
- Only 16% of reconsideration requests get approved, making this the most challenging appeal stage
- Successful applicants receive substantial back pay covering months of waiting time
- Payment calculations remain the same regardless of approval stage—based on lifetime earnings history
- Most successful SSDI applicants eventually win at the Administrative Law Judge hearing level with 51% approval rates

