Periodically people call to ask if they can get more in Social Security benefits if their health declines. These are people who are already on Social Security disability but wish to get more money each month. There is some logic in this, but, unfortunately, Social Security disability does not work that way.
Benefits Calculations Are Purely Mathematical
Social Security first determines if you are disabled. Once they make this determination they next calculate how much you are entitled to in monthly benefits. This latter calculation is not based on the severity of your medical problems. Rather, the determination is purely financial. Simply put, the more money you paid into the system via payroll taxes, the higher your benefits are going to be.
Only More Earnings Would Increase Your Benefits
No change in your health for the worse is going to result in you getting additional monthly benefits. The only way to increase that number would be to go off of Social Security disability and return to work. Even that approach would require years or earnings to change the monthly benefits amount significantly.
All Or Nothing At All
Intuitively, it seems as if you are on disability for a bad back and then you lose an arm, you should get more benefits. After all, you are now “more” disabled. But, Social Security is an all or nothing system.
Keep the good questions coming.
