The Social Security Administration (SSA) confirmed the distribution dates for Social Security Disability Security (SSDI) payments for May 2025. Recipients are divided into three groups based on their date of birth. Those with birthdays between the 1st and 10th will receive their payment on May 14, the second Wednesday of the month.
Those born between the 11th and the 20th will collect on May 21, the third Wednesday. Those whose birthdays are between 21 and 31 will receive their benefit on May 28, the fourth Wednesday. These dates remain unchanged, since they do not coincide with federal holidays.
The case is different for those who claimed benefits before May 1997, who see their payments on May 2, ahead of the typical third day of the month, because it falls on a weekend. The only federal holiday in May 2025 is Memorial Day (May 26, Monday). This does not affect payments scheduled for Wednesday. The SSA confirms that there are no delays planned for that month.
Maximum SSDI payments that are more than $4,000 per month
Going to official SSA sources, Elmira confirmed that SSDI payments include a 2.5% cost of living adjustment (COLA) for 2025. This increase, announced by the SSA, has been applied since January. However, the monthly amounts do not vary during the year. This means that the values in force in May are maintained until December 2025, inclusive.
The maximum payment for an individual beneficiary is $4,018, while the average is $1,580. These amounts vary depending on work history and years of contributions. In some cases, beneficiaries with dependents may receive larger amounts, under current rules.
The calculation of SSDI, like those of Social Security retirement, considers the 35 years with the highest income of the beneficiary. Those who reach the top tend to have high salaries and long careers. “The Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) determines the base benefit, adjusted by the COLA,” an SSA official explains to Elmira.
The average of $1,580 reflects the overall distribution of payments. According to Disability Secrets, nearly two-thirds of recipients are paid between $900 and $1,600. These differences are due to variations in the contributions made and the time worked by each person.
What to do if your SSDI didn’t arrive on time
SSA encourages recipients to verify their exact payment dates through their account at ssa.gov. There, they can access specific details, such as exact amounts and included dependents.
For exceptional cases or doubts, the entity enables telephone lines and local offices. Payments are made exclusively by direct deposit, eliminating mail delays.
As of March 2025, approximately 7.18 million people receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits in the United States. Of that total, around 7.18 million are workers with disabilities, and the rest correspond to spouses and surviving children of workers who qualified. Collectively, the SSDI program provides economic support to more than 8.26 million beneficiaries, including workers with disabilities and their dependent family members.