If you are in the Disability Insurance (SSDI) program, February 2025 comes with surprises for your pocket. I’ll tell you the quick gossip: some will receive up to $4,018 if they qualify for the cap. How and when? Here we give you the data in the easiest way to understand.
SSDI benefits are a safeguard of financial security for people who cannot work due to a disability. If you have worked and paid Social Security taxes, you may qualify to receive money monthly if you get sick or injured and can’t work for a year or more (or if you suffer from an illness that is diagnosed to result in death).
What types of conditions qualify for SSDI?
Imagine you worked as a carpenter for years, but you hurt your back and can no longer lift heavy objects and you stop working, affecting your family’s income. If your doctor says you can no longer work in that field, you could apply for SSDI benefits. If you are approved, you will receive a check each month to help you with your basic expenses, such as rent, food, and medicine.
It is worth noting that it is not very easy to qualify for disability benefits: you have to prove it, with the correct medical documents. But if you really need it, SSDI can be a big help to keep you afloat while you look for other options or learn a new job that fits your limitations.
Social Security SSDI benefits start to arrive from today
SSDI beneficiaries share dates with Social Security retirement beneficiaries, and are organized into three groups based on the beneficiary’s date of birth:
- You were born between the 1st and the 10th: February 12 (second Wednesday) is your day.
- From the 11th to the 20th: aim for February 19 (third Wednesday).
- From the 21st to the 31st: Mark February 26 (fourth Wednesday) on the calendar.
Note: If you received SSDI before 1997 or also collect SSI, your payment should have already arrived on January 31 or February 3. And if February flies by, March repeats the same formula on the 12th, 19th and 26th.
What do you need to apply for SSDI?
The first thing is to have what is known as “work credits”, which are basically years of contributions. In 2025, each credit is equal to $1,810, and you can collect up to 4 of these per year, for a total of $7,240.
The general rule of thumb is to have 40 credits in your lifetime, with 20 of them in the last 10 years before your disability. But if you are young, they ask you less.
Your condition must be in the SSA Blue Book (some kind of a giant manual with qualifying illnesses). If your situation is there, you are on the right track to be eligible. If you receive other benefits (such as workers’ compensation), your SSDI payment could be lowered. Better check with an expert to avoid surprises.
