The Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) program, also known as Social Security, is a federal program in the United States that provides income support to retirees, people with disabilities, along with their families. This program was created in 1935 and is funded through payroll taxes (OASDI taxes), also known as FICA taxes for employees and SECA taxes for self-employed individuals. The program aims to replace income that is lost due to factors like old age, the death of a qualifying spouse or ex-spouse, or disability.

In 2025, the average monthly benefit from this program was reported to be $1,976, and about nine out of ten individuals age 65 or older receive Social Security benefits. The amount available to individuals for retirement benefits is calculated using their average indexed monthly earnings over the 35 years in which they earned the most.

OASDI Program payments are available for people who meet certain criteria concerning retirement age (which is determined by the individual’s birth date), disability, and survivor status following the death of a qualifying worker. It’s important to note that a portion of Social Security benefits is taxable unless the individual’s income falls below a certain threshold.

Payments from the OASDI program or Social Security are funded through taxes paid by workers and employers. For 2025, the maximum earnings subject to the tax were $176,100. Once these conditions are met and the necessary credits are accumulated, an individual becomes qualified to receive their benefits.

While there are very few exceptions and exemptions to OASDI taxes, however, such individuals are ineligible to receive Social Security payments. Thus, the OASDI is a robust program that assists in offering monetary support to those in need due to age, disability, or loss of a spouse.

To know more about your OASDI benefits, the fastest way to get through to EDD is by visiting the official website or reaching out via their customer service. For more direct assistance, you may also visit eddcaller.com providing detailed guides on how to get through to EDD customer service.