The Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced that Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) payments, which provide critical support to workers with disabilities, will be distributed next week.
These payments are divided into three groups for March 2025, with March 19, the third Wednesday of the month, serving as a key date. I will explain who will receive these funds, how they are calculated, and what criteria you must meet to be eligible.
The SSA calculates SSDI payments based on two factors: the date you began receiving benefits and your birthday. One of the groups has a set day each month that is only moved forward in the case of weekends or holidays.
SSDI payment schedule and beneficiary groups: two payments pending in March
As expected, there are two types of SSDI beneficiary payments, depending on whether they began receiving payments before or after May 1997:
- Beneficiaries prior to May 1997: Your payments are deposited on the 3rd of each month. In March 2025, they will have already received their payment on March 3, with the next scheduled for April 3.
- Beneficiaries after May 1997: Payments are assigned according to the day of birth:
- Born between 1 and 10: Second Wednesday of the month (March 12).
- Born between 11 and 20: Third Wednesday (March 19).
- Born between 21 and 31: Fourth Wednesday (March 26)
Therefore, March 19, 2025 will be dedicated to those who:
- They started their SSDI benefits after May 1997.
- They have birthdays between the 11th and 20th of any month.
- They comply with the established medical and work conditions.
To ensure funds arrive on time, SSA recommends using direct deposit and keeping banking information up to date. Without this method, payments could be delayed up to five business days.
How much will SSDI beneficiaries receive?
The maximum amount of SSDI in 2025 will be $4,018 per month, which differs slightly from retirement benefits, which, while based on the same work history eligibility criteria, have different maximum amounts.
This figure reflects a 2.5% cost of living adjustment (COLA) that was implemented to combat inflation. However, achieving this maximum is uncommon because it requires 35 years of consistently high income.
The average is usually lower, depending on each person’s work history, implying that each case is unique, and the SSA will meticulously examine it to ensure that the amount received is completely fair to each individual.
The SSA calculates benefits using work credits. In 2025, you will receive one credit for every $1,810 paid in Social Security taxes, with a maximum of four credits per year (equal to $7,240). These credits affect both eligibility and final payment amount.
Requirements to Qualify for SSDI
To access these benefits, you need to meet two fundamental conditions:
- Disabling medical condition: You must have a disability that prevents you from performing a substantial work activity (SGA), defined as earning more than $1,620 per month in 2025 (or $2,700 if you are blind). The condition must last at least 12 months or be terminal.
- Contribution history: The amount of work credits needed varies depending on your age:
- Under 24 years: 6 credits in the last 3 years.
- 24 to 30 years: Credits equivalent to half the time from the age of 21.
- Over 31 years old: 20 credits in the last 10 years and 40 in total.
Family benefits and job opportunities
SSDI not only supports the disabled worker, but also their family. Spouses and children under 18 years of age may be eligible for additional benefits, ranging from 150% to 180% of the individual payment. For example, if a beneficiary receives $1,537 per month, their household could get up to $2,765.
Additionally, the SSA encourages returning to work through the Trial Work Program. In 2025, you can earn up to $1,160 a month without affecting your beneficiary status, with each month considered a “trial month.” If you go over this limit for more than nine months in a 60-month period, payments will stop.
