Disability benefits in Massachusetts

SSI (Supplemental Security Income)

• Federal SSI maximum, individual (monthly): $994 ^[1] Last verified 2026-11-12
• Federal SSI maximum, couple (monthly): $1,491 ^[2] Last verified 2026-11-12
• Who pays the state SSI supplement: The state pays it ^[3] Last verified 2026-11-12
• State-administered supplement amounts: Not verified ^[4] Last verified 2026-11-12
• SSI recipients: 162,417 ^[5] Last verified 2026-11-12
• Average monthly SSI payment: $698.97 ^[6] Last verified 2026-11-12
• Recipients of SSA-paid state supplement: Not verified ^[7] Last verified 2026-11-12
• SSI recipients who are blind or disabled: 135,247 ^[8] Last verified 2026-11-12
• SSI recipients under age 18: 18,566 ^[9] Last verified 2026-11-12
• SSI recipients also receiving Social Security: 49,288 ^[10] Last verified 2026-11-12

SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance)

• SSDI disabled-worker beneficiaries: 151,027 ^[1] Last verified 2026-11-12
• Total monthly SSDI benefits to disabled workers: $248,201,000 ^[2] Last verified 2026-11-12
• Average monthly SSDI benefit (disabled workers): $1,643.42 Estimate ssdi.totalMonthlyBenefits / ssdi.disabledWorkerBeneficiaries^[3] Last verified 2026-11-12
• Spouses and children receiving SSDI family benefits: 21,926 Estimate Table 2 Disability Spouses + Disability Children^[4] Last verified 2026-11-12

Disability decisions, last 12 months

• Initial disability claims received (12 months): 39,524 Estimate Sum of monthly Receipts (All Initial), FY2026^[1] Last verified 2026-11-12
• Initial disability decisions (12 months): 36,501 Estimate Sum of monthly Determinations (All Initial), FY2026^[2] Last verified 2026-11-12
• Initial claims approved (12 months): 13,089 Estimate Sum of monthly Allowances (All Initial), FY2026^[3] Last verified 2026-11-12
• Initial approval rate (12 months): 35.9% Estimate dds.favorableDeterminations / dds.determinations x 100 (initial claims, FY2026)^[4] Last verified 2026-11-12
• Reconsideration approval rate (12 months): 16% Estimate Sum of Allowances (All Recon) / Sum of Determinations (All Recon) x 100, FY2026^[5] Last verified 2026-11-12
• Initial claims pending: 16,241 ^[6] Last verified 2026-11-12
• Backlog estimate (months of work): 5.3 months Estimate dds.pending / (dds.determinations / 12): months of backlog at the FY2026 pace. Not an official processing time.^[7] Last verified 2026-11-12

State short-term disability / paid medical leave

• State short-term disability or paid medical leave program: Yes ^[1] Last verified 2026-11-12
• Program name: Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) ^[2] Last verified 2026-11-12
• Maximum weekly benefit: $1,230.39 ^[3] Last verified 2026-11-12
• Maximum duration: Not verified ^[4] Last verified 2026-11-12
• Waiting period: Not verified ^[5] Last verified 2026-11-12
• Payroll contribution: 0.88% of eligible wages (employers with 25+ covered individuals) ^[6] Last verified 2026-11-12
• Program website: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/paid-family-and-medical-leave-pfml-overview-and-benefits ^[7] Last verified 2026-11-12

Medicaid buy-in

• Medicaid buy-in for working people with disabilities: Yes ^[1] Last verified 2026-11-12
• Buy-in income limit: No limit ^[2] Last verified 2026-11-12
• Buy-in asset limit: No limit ^[3] Last verified 2026-11-12
• Buy-in premiums: $17 ^[4] Last verified 2026-11-12

Population

• Disability prevalence (Census ACS): Not verified ^[1] Last verified 2026-11-12

Disability decisions, fiscal year 2024

• FY2024 favorable determination rate, all claims: 40.17% ^[1] Last verified 2026-11-12
• FY2024 adult favorable determination rate: 36.07% ^[2] Last verified 2026-11-12
• FY2024 SSI child allowance rate: 65.8% ^[3] Last verified 2026-11-12
• Share of adults 18-64 receiving SSA disability benefits (FY2024): 5.05% ^[4] Last verified 2026-11-12

How much is SSI in Massachusetts in 2026?

The federal SSI maximum is $994 per month for one person and $1,491 for a couple. Massachusetts runs its own supplement program, which Social Security does not pay; check with the state agency. From January of next year the federal maximum rises to $1,029.

What is the average SSI payment in Massachusetts?

In December of last year, 162,417 people in Massachusetts received SSI, and the average federally administered payment was $698.97 per month.

What is the SSDI approval rate in Massachusetts?

In federal fiscal year ending this September, Massachusetts's disability determination agency approved 35.9% of the initial disability claims it decided and 16% of reconsiderations. These rates cover SSDI and SSI disability claims together.

How long does a disability decision take in Massachusetts?

Social Security does not publish an average initial decision time by state. Massachusetts had 16,241 initial claims pending, which at the recent pace is roughly 5.3 months months of work. Treat this as an estimate.

What is the average SSDI payment in Massachusetts?

151,027 disabled workers in Massachusetts received Social Security disability benefits, averaging about $1,643.42 per month in December of last year.

Does Massachusetts have state short-term disability?

Yes. Massachusetts has Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML), which pays up to $1,230.39 per week to eligible workers who cannot work because of their own serious health condition.

Can I keep Medicaid while working with a disability in Massachusetts?

Yes. Massachusetts has a Medicaid buy-in for working people with disabilities. Income limit: No limit.