July brings scheduled dates for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments, along with important reminders about updated amounts and an impending digital transition that all beneficiaries should be aware of to take action before it’s too late.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) bases its schedule on two main factors: the first is when the benefit was first claimed (before or after May 1997), and the primary beneficiary’s birthday. Payments are categorized based on this.
July 2025 SSDI payments: Four dates for more than 7 million beneficiaries
The rollout of payments begins on July 1st for SSI beneficiaries. This is followed by the July 3rd round of deposits for a specific group: those who began receiving SSDI benefits before May 1997, those who also receive SSI, those who live abroad, or those whose Medicare premiums are covered by the state.
Now, payment rounds begin for those who claimed their benefits after May 1997. We move on to July 9th (the second Wednesday), which corresponds to those born between the 1st and 10th of the month. The following week, on July 16th (the third Wednesday), it’s the turn of those born between the 11th and 20th. Finally, July 23rd (the fourth Wednesday) completes the cycle for those born between the 21st and 31st.
The SSDI amounts for July reflect the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) increase implemented in 2025. The average disabled worker receives $1,580 per month. If the worker has a spouse and children, the combined average is $2,826. Comparatively, single retirees receive an average of $1,976, retired couples $3,089, and widowed mothers with two children $3,761.
The maximum amounts are particularly high, but they are reserved for a smaller group of beneficiaries (less than 5%, according to some estimates). The maximum SSDI benefit is $4,018 per month, reserved for those who earned high wages for at least 35 years.
In contrast, you may notice that the maximum SSDI benefit is lower than the retirement benefit, which can reach $5,108 in 2025 for those with high incomes who delay retirement until age 70.
Attention: Paper checks are disappearing forever
A momentous change is coming: Goodbye to paper at the SSA! Starting in October 2025, the agency will completely eliminate physical checks. All payments must be received by direct deposit into a bank account or via a Direct Express card.
This measure seeks to strengthen security, eliminate postal delays and losses, and increase administrative efficiency. “By 2025, more than 90% of payments were made digitally, so this is a logical step,” the SSA notes.
What should recipients do? First, you should verify that your bank accepts direct deposits, or apply for a Direct Express card if you don’t have a bank account or don’t have access to a bank to apply for one.
Additionally, you must review and update your banking information at SSA.gov or your local office by October 2025. “Beginning that month, paper checks will no longer be available, with very limited exceptions,” the regulations state.
Those who wish to request an exemption may do so, but the SSA will only grant it to those with very specific circumstances, such as those who live in areas far from large urban centers and cannot easily access a bank, or those who, due to their geographic location, must prioritize payment by paper check because cash is the preferred payment method in the surrounding areas.
If you’re still receiving checks, activate direct deposit immediately. If you experience missing payments or banking errors, contact the SSA through SSA.gov or by calling 1-800-772-1213.
