The Social Security Administration (SSA) confirmed the distribution dates for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) payments for May 2025. Beneficiaries will receive their deposits based on their date of birth, following the tiered system implemented in 1997.
Payments will be allocated on three consecutive Wednesdays. Those born between the 1st and 10th of any month will receive their benefit on May 14, the second Wednesday of the month. This group is the only one that will collect on that date, according to the official calendar published by the SSA.
Those born between the 11th and the 20th will receive their funds on May 21, the third Wednesday. Those who have birthdays from 21 to 31 will access the payment on May 28, the fourth Wednesday. These dates apply to the majority of the 7.3 million beneficiaries registered in 2024.
There is always some change in the Social Security calendar
Beneficiaries who began receiving SSDI before May 1997 or who receive SSDI along with Supplemental Security Income (SSI) get their payments on the third business day of each month. For May 2025, this date would be May 2, as it does not coincide with weekends.
However, the specific query refers only to the system based on dates of birth. The SSA clarified that there will be no changes to the distribution method for 2025, maintaining the structure in force for 28 years.
Maximum and average disability benefit amounts increased in 2025
The maximum SSDI amount in 2025 will be $4,018 per month, according to SSA data. This value corresponds to workers with histories of high earnings during their 35 years of highest earnings, adjusted for inflation. Only 4% of beneficiaries reach this figure, according to Nolo analysis.
The overall average monthly payments will be $1,580, including the 2.5% cost of living adjustment (COLA). This adjustment is calculated using the Consumer Price Index for Urban Earners (CPI-W), and puts monthly benefits between approximately $1,500 and $1,600.
The 2.5% increase in payments represents an average increase of $50 per month compared to 2024. For beneficiaries receiving the average amount, this translates to an annual increase of $600. The SSA has applied these adjustments automatically since 1975 to preserve the purchasing power of beneficiaries.
However, organizations such as the Center on Budget Priorities (CBPP) point out that the COLA does not always compensate for the real increase in medical expenses and housing, the main spending items for people with severe disabilities.
74% of the beneficiaries are over 50 years old, according to the CBPP. Musculoskeletal (33%) and mental (26%) disorders are the main causes of disability. To qualify, applicants must demonstrate an inability to perform jobs that generate more than $1,620 per month ($2,700 for blind people).
Requirements to be eligible for SSDI disability benefits
In 2025, the requirement of having at least 40 work credits, equivalent to 10 years of work, will be maintained. Only 34% of initial applications are approved, according to SSA records from 2024.
The Social Security Fairness Act, effective January 2025, eliminated two controversial provisions: the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). This benefited public employees such as teachers and firefighters, increasing their payments between $360 and $1,190 monthly.
Retroactive adjustments for these reforms began in February 2025, with average deposits of $6,710 per beneficiary. Kiplinger estimates that 410,000 people received these additional payments during the first quarter of the year.
Experts project that the number of beneficiaries will remain stable around 7.3 million in 2025, considering the aging of the baby boom generation and the reduction in new applications since 2010. The SSA will allocate approximately $143 billion to the SSDI program this year, 3.8% more than in 2024.