In 2025, the SSA updated SSDI disability benefit amounts, raising the maximum monthly payment to $4,018. This is the maximum amount that a beneficiary can receive; however, not everyone will receive it. The precise amount you receive depends on two major factors:
The Social Security Administration (SSA) administers SSDI, a federal program that provides financial benefits to workers who are unable to work due to disability. To be eligible, you must have worked and paid Social Security taxes (via FICA deductions on your payroll) for a specific number of years.
Requirements that must be met to receive SSDI
Furthermore, you must meet the SSA’s definition of disability, which generally states that you are unable to perform substantial work due to a medical condition that will last at least one year or result in death.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) calculates your benefit based on your average earnings prior to becoming disabled. If you earned a high income and paid more Social Security taxes, you are likely to receive a larger benefit.
To be eligible for the maximum amount, you must have worked for at least 35 years and have met the Social Security tax (FICA) maximum limit on multiple occasions. Furthermore, the SSA’s guidelines state that you must have accumulated 40 work credits, which is roughly equivalent to 10 years of work.
What if you also receive SSI benefits?
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a separate program that assists low-income individuals with disabilities, regardless of their employment history. If you receive both SSDI and SSI, the maximum SSI amounts in 2025 are $967 for an individual, $1,450 for a couple, and $484 for an essential support person.
These amounts are in addition to what you receive from SSDI; however, keep in mind that SSI has income and resource limits, so not all SSDI recipients qualify for SSI and may exceed the limits, resulting in reduced benefits.
When are SSDI benefits paid in February 2025?
SSDI payments are made on specific dates each month, based on your date of birth and when you began receiving benefits. Below is the payment schedule for February 2025:
- February 3: For beneficiaries who began receiving their pension before May 1997. These payments do not depend on the date of birth.
- February 12: For beneficiaries born between the 1st and 10th of any month, who began receiving benefits after May 1997.
- February 19: For beneficiaries born between the 11th and 20th of any month, who began receiving benefits after May 1997.
- February 26: For beneficiaries born between the 21st and 31st of any month, who began receiving benefits after May 1997.
The SSI payment will be advanced from Saturday, February 1, which would be the original date, to Friday, January 31, because the SSA does not pay benefits on weekends or holidays.
