The Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a federal program that provides financial support to individuals who are unable to work due to qualified disabilities. The payment schedule for December has sparked interest, therefore, December 18 and 24 are dates that all of them are waiting for.
SSDI benefits are administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and are tied to the individual’s work history, as well as tax contributions made through the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA).
This legislation requires employees, employers, and self-employed workers to contribute a fraction of their income to the Social Security Trust Fund, which funds both retirement and disability benefits. This system supports approximately 8.3 million people, including workers with disabilities and their families.
SSDI payment schedule for December: the last two batches to be sent
SSDI payments are distributed monthly and are calculated based on the beneficiary’s average earnings over their working life, applying specific formulas used by the SSA that consider covered earnings and adjustments for inflation.
The distribution of these payments is staggered, every month on three different dates, determined by the beneficiary’s date of birth:
- Beneficiaries born between December 1 and 10 will receive their payment on the second Wednesday of the month, which corresponds to December 11.
- Those whose birthdays fall between December 11 and 20 are scheduled to receive their assistance on the third Wednesday, that is, next December 18.
- Then, those born between December 21 and 31 should receive their payment on the fourth Wednesday; However, due to the Christmas celebration, your payment date is brought forward to Tuesday, December 24.
- Finally, beneficiaries who applied for Social Security benefits before 1997, as well as those who reside outside the United States, who receive both SSI and Social Security benefits, or who have the state covering their Medicare premiums, already They should have received their corresponding payments on December 3, according to the SSA calendar.
Some SSDI recipients may receive up to $3,822
In 2024, the maximum Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefit is $3,822 per month, although the average benefit is significantly lower, at approximately $1,537 per month. The exact amount a beneficiary receives is determined based on their average earnings over their working life, before disability.
Beginning in January 2025, a 2.5% increase in payments is expected due to the cost of living adjustment (COLA) increase. With this increase, the maximum SSDI benefit will be approximately $3,917 per month, while the average benefit will be approximately $1,577 per month.
This adjustment, applied both by the SSA for Social Security benefits, as well as for those who qualify for SNAP benefits, seeks to help beneficiaries face the increase in the cost of living and maintain their purchasing power in the face of increasing prices of goods and services.