In December, some Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries will receive three payments in one month due to how the Social Security Administration (SSA) organizes its payment schedule and how holidays or weekends coincide, to stay organized and tidy-up with the schedule along the year.
This phenomenon occurs occasionally and does not imply an increase in monthly profits, but rather an adjustment in the deposit schedule. Payments are generally scheduled based on the beneficiary’s date of birth. Those born between the 1st and 10th of the month receive their payment on the second Wednesday; those born between the 11th and the 20th, the third Wednesday; and those born between the 21st and 31st, the fourth Wednesday. But this month you will notice a change.
SSA changed several SSDI and SSI payment dates this month
If your birthday falls into the third group, that is, those who receive their payments on the fourth Wednesday of December, pay attention, because the payment will be sent one day before, that is, on December 24 (naturally, the December 25, Christmas Day, is a holiday).
Before there is confusion, let us clarify that the advance of benefits does not represent additional income for recipients. It is the same case for those beneficiaries of Supplemental Security Income, whose December payment was sent on November 29, and who will see how the payment corresponding to the month of January 2025 will be deposited into their accounts on December 31.
SSDI to increase to more than $4,000 starting January 2025
In 2024, the maximum Social Security disability benefit for a disabled worker receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is $3,822 per month, according to the Social Security Administration (SSA). This figure will increase in 2025 due to a cost of living adjustment (COLA), as the SSA announced a 2025 COLA adjustment of 2.5%.
However, the average profits are much lower. On average, a disabled worker will receive $1,537 per month from the SSA in 2024, and the estimated average monthly benefit for a disabled worker and their family is $2,720.
Taking into account the announced COLA increase of 2.5% for next year, the maximum SSDI amount will rise to an estimated between $3,923 and $4,018 for people who reach full retirement age, which is 67 for most people born after 1960. The average for a disabled worker is expected to reach $1,577 per month, while the average for a disabled worker and his or her family may be about $2,826 per month. All these amounts are just calculations and are to be defined as the months go by.
