New Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) payments are confirmed for this week, when the second round of payments for May arrives. The Social Security Administration (SSA) sends payments to beneficiaries based on their date of birth, particularly those who began claiming benefits after May 1997.
The first group already received their payment in May: those disabled workers who receive SSDI and have birthdays between the 1st and 10th of any month, and saw the money fall into their bank account on the second Wednesday (May 14).
The other groups set to receive payments this month are: beneficiaries with birth dates between the 11th and 20th (receiving payments on May 21), and beneficiaries with birthdates after the 21st (receiving payments on May 28).
What happens if I don’t receive my SSDI payments on time?
If a payment doesn’t appear on the scheduled date, the official recommendation is to wait three business days before contacting the SSA. Minor delays may occur due to banking processes, according to public guidelines. For inquiries, the contact number is 1-800-772-1213, available during business hours.
So far, no widespread payment failures have been reported for the third and fourth Wednesdays of May, following inquiries with the SSA.
Payment amounts depend on the beneficiary’s employment and tax history. For 2025, the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) was 2.5%, applied to benefits from January through December 2025. This increase affects both the maximum amount and the monthly average.
Maximum and average SSDI benefit amounts in May 2025
The maximum SSDI benefit amount for 2025 is $4,018 per month, for those who had high incomes before their disability. This amount reflects inflation adjustment and is calculated based on the beneficiary’s 35 highest-earning years.
The average, on the other hand, is $1,582 per month, according to official data from April 2025. This figure represents a 2.5% increase compared to 2024, in line with the COLA. Individual variations depend on tax history and years of work.
Tables published by the SSA show that 61% of beneficiaries receive less than $2,000 per month. Only 9% access the maximum amount, a group composed primarily of professionals with extensive careers and high previous salaries.
Can my SSDI benefits be taken away?
SSDI benefits may be suspended if the beneficiary exceeds the SGA (Substantial Gainful Activity) threshold, which is set at $1,620 per month by 2025. This threshold applies to individuals who are not blind and is reviewed annually based on changes in the national average wage.
Another common reason is medical improvement certified by SSA evaluations. If a beneficiary regains the ability to work on a sustained basis, payments cease. Furthermore, reaching full retirement age automatically converts SSDI benefits into retirement benefits.
Incarceration, failure to respond to requests for information, or evidence of fraud are also grounds for termination. Programs like Ticket to Work allow for immediate return to work without losing benefits, under specific conditions.
