Newly announced Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) payments are being distributed this week to the second of three groups of disabled workers who began claiming benefits after May 1997. The exact dates depend on the beneficiary’s birthday, following the calendar established by the entity.
According to the schedule, those born between the 11th and 20th of any month will receive their payment on Wednesday, May 21st. Beneficiaries with birthdates between the 21st and 31st will receive their deposit on Wednesday, May 28th. Funds are released starting at 12:01 a.m. on the assigned day.
Are there any changes to the Social Security payment schedule?
Some specific cases alter the standard schedule. Beneficiaries who began receiving SSDI before May 1997, reside outside the U.S., are simultaneously receiving SSI, or have Medicare premiums covered by the state receive their payments on the 3rd of each month. For May, this group received funds on May 2 (advanced from the 3rd, which was a Saturday).
Additionally, some SSDI beneficiaries also receive a Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit, which arrives once a month, and in May, the payment actually due in June is advanced. Since June 1 falls on a Sunday, the deposit was made on Friday, May 30. This adjustment prevents benefit delays for those who rely on these priority resources.
Other SSDI payments remained unchanged, remaining on the second, third, and fourth Wednesdays of the month, as they do every month.
Maximum disability benefit amounts
The amount a person receives from Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is calculated based on their work history and earnings. Specifically, the 35 years in which the person earned the most money are adjusted according to the national average wage index.
From this data, the Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) is determined, which is updated annually with the cost-of-living adjustment, known as the COLA.
For 2025, the COLA was increased by 2.5%, raising the average payments received by SSDI beneficiaries. However, the maximum possible monthly benefit—$4,018—is only available to those who have earned the full annual taxable limit for 35 consecutive years.
That limit, set at $176,100 for 2025, represents the income threshold at which Social Security taxes apply. This maximum amount is the same as that applied to those who retire with full benefits.
In practice, the vast majority of SSDI beneficiaries fall short of this maximum. According to Social Security data, the average monthly payment in 2025 for a disabled person is $1,580. This lower amount reflects career paths with more modest income or those interrupted by illness, unemployment, or other circumstances.
For SSI, the maximum amount is $967 for an individual, and $1,450 for a couple receiving benefits together.
