Social Security disability payments are quite modest!
At the beginning of 2015, Social Security paid an average monthly disability benefit of $1,165. That is barely enough to keep a beneficiary above the 2014 poverty level ($11,670 annually). For many beneficiaries, their monthly disability payment represents most of their income. Even these modest payments can make a huge difference in the lives of people who can no longer work. They allow people to meet basic needs and the needs of their families.
SSI (supplemental Security Income) for 2015 pays a monthly maximum federal amount of $733 for an eligible individual, $1,100 for an eligible individual with an eligible spouse, and $367 for an essential person. A few states supplement this with a cost of living amount.