Patti,
Family income has nothing to do with it. They go by your work record and what you did prior and what you can do now. They don't care if you can find a job, they just want to make sure you can do it. In my case, everything I had done for the past forty years, I can no longer do because it takes concentration, balance, stamina................all of the things I no longer have. I don't know what the formula is for deciding what you get but it is about the same as you would get when you retire, maybe a little bit more. Fortunately, I made really good money the last several years I worked. Of course what I get from SSD doesn't come close to what I made, but it makes me feel like I am contributing and it pays for my meds, my hair, my feet, things that I wouldn't want to have to ask my husband for. I never had to ask anyone for anything before so not paying "my share" really hurt my pride. When they decide that you are disabled they decide when you became disabled. For me that was several months before my surgery. I was one of the lucky ones. If losing your hearing, balance etc and these headaches is lucky. I hope that helps to answer your question.
Brenda
