The Social Security Administration (SSA) confirmed a 2.5% increase in Social Security Disability (SSDI) benefits for 2025, an adjustment tied to the cost of living index (COLA). This increase seeks to mitigate the impact of inflation and maintain the purchasing power of the beneficiaries. The average monthly amount will be approximately $1,537, while the maximum will reach $4,018, an amount that is for a small percentage of beneficiaries (most will be closer to the average than the maximum).
SSDI benefits are designed for workers who have paid a minimum amount of Social Security taxes and who have worked a certain number of years but who, due to an illness or accident (which will leave them unable to work for at least one year) are unable to engage in gainful activity. The SSA supports more than 68 million beneficiaries across the United States with benefits, including SSDI recipients.
March 2025 payment distribution: One final group receives payments next week
SSDI deposits are made on Wednesdays of each month, following a calendar based on the beneficiary’s date of birth:
- 1 to 10: second Wednesday (March 12, 2025).
- 11 to 20: third Wednesday (March 19, 2025).
- 21 to 31: fourth Wednesday (March 26, 2025).
In March 2025, the last group will receive their payment on March 26, a business day without transfers. The SSA recommends contacting them only if the deposit does not appear three business days after the scheduled date.
SSDI Minimum Eligibility Requirements: Disability and Work Credits
To qualify for SSDI, applicants must demonstrate a disability that prevents them from performing substantial work and that extends for at least 12 months or is terminal. Additionally, they need to accumulate 40 work credits, with at least 20 obtained in the decade prior to the disability. In 2025, each credit is equivalent to $1,810 in income, with a limit of 4 credits annually ($7,240 annually). Exceptions apply for those under 24 years of age, who require only 6 credits in three years.
There is a five-month waiting period after the starting point of disability, during which the SSA will not provide benefits. Once that time has passed, SSDI payments are activated and begin to be formally sent. This lapse affects the financial planning of applicants, many of whom deplete savings before receiving the first payment.
Regarding the amounts, although the maximum of $4,018 is notable, less than 3% of beneficiaries reach it, according to a recent analysis, since it requires salary histories in higher percentiles.
Net benefits may be reduced by items such as Medicare Part B premiums, which in 2025 will reach $185 per month for some groups. Furthermore, although the 2.5% COLA follows established methodologies, organizations such as AARP have received complaints from beneficiaries who consider it insufficient in the face of inflation in sectors such as health, where costs exceed 4% annually.
