Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) payments for May 2025 will be made in accordance with the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) specified timetable, depending on the recipients’ birth dates. This method, in place since 1997, distributes funds throughout the month so that the system is not overburdened on a certain date.

Specifically, those with birthdays between the first and tenth of any month will receive their reward on the second Wednesday of May, which is May 14, 2025. For individuals born between the 11th and 20th of the month, the designated date is the third Wednesday, which is May 21. Finally, recipients born between the 21st and the 31st will receive their deposits on the fourth Wednesday, May 28.

Why do SSDI payments include an extra 2.5%?

All of these figures will reflect a 2.5% rise for the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), which is an increase over the 2024 payments. Furthermore, the SSA adds that if any of these scheduled dates overlap with a federal holiday, the payment will be issued the preceding working day to ensure that beneficiaries do not face delays.

The cost of living adjustment (COLA) will result in considerable increases in SSDI payouts by 2025. The maximum monthly amount a beneficiary can get is $4,018, which surpasses the $3,822 cap established in 2024. This maximum amount applies mostly to persons with strong work records and high incomes who have made significant payments to the system over their careers.

However, most claimants do not receive the maximum amount. The entire average monthly payment in 2025 is $1,580, representing a moderate rise over previous years.

One crucial truth is that those who have recently been authorised for SSDI typically receive larger benefits. This is because their benefits are computed using more recent income, which has already been adjusted for inflation, and because they have more consistent work trajectories, with no long periods of non-contribution. In these circumstances, the monthly average can be around $1,753.

This is how the SSA calculates your SSDI disability benefits payments

Individual amounts are determined using a sophisticated method that takes into account the beneficiary’s average earnings prior to incapacity. The SSA considers up to 35 years of the highest reported income, excluding years with smaller payments.

This strategy aims to represent the individual’s economic capabilities prior to their handicap, ensuring that those who contributed the most to the system receive proportional benefits. However, this model predicts that persons with interrupted career trajectories or low wages may earn significantly lower pay than the average.