Today is the last day of 2024 and the 2025 COLA increase will go into effect tomorrow. For Social Security Disability Insurance recipients, that also means a bigger monthly check going forward. Monthly checks begin on the third of the month for certain beneficiaries, and three additional rounds of payments are sent out throughout the month. Below, we’ll break down the payment schedule so you know exactly when to expect your check.
The Social Security Administration sends monthly payments to people who have a disability that stops or limits their ability to work. Depending on the situation of the individual, others may qualify and can apply for SSDI as well.
For more, here’s what you can do if you’re last payment never arrived, and here’s the Supplemental Security Income payment schedule.
Payment schedule if you’ve had SSDI since May 1997 or earlier
If you started getting SSDI before May 1997, you’d usually receive your payment on the third day of every month. Note that this isn’t always the case, like when the third day falls on a weekend or holiday. This past March was such a month, and SSDI recipients received their payments two days earlier, on the first day of the month.
For everyone else, payments are birth-date-dependent
If you began receiving SSDI after May 1997, then your payment date is determined by the day of the month you were born. Payments are typically paid out on the second, third and fourth Wednesday of the month. Which Wednesday you get your check breaks down like this:
| Birthdate between | Social Security check date |
|---|---|
| 1 and 10 of the month | Second Wednesday of the month |
| 11 and 20 of the month | Third Wednesday of the month |
| 21 and 31 of the month | Fourth Wednesday of the month |
When you’ll get your SSDI payment for December
Here’s when your SSDI payment should arrive this month:
| If you’ve received Social Security before May 1997 | Jan. 3 |
|---|---|
| If your birthday falls between day 1 and 10 of the month | Jan. 8 |
| If your birthday falls between day 11 and 20 of the month | Jan. 15 |
| If your birthday falls between day 21 and 31 of the month | Jan. 22 |
Will the 2025 COLA affect my payment?
Probably, but it depends. The COLA for 2025 introduces a 2.5% increase in monthly benefit checks, but exactly how much of an increase will depend on several factors. Any monthly income, how long you’ve received benefits, and what type of benefit you receive can result in a different payment increase. Recipients should have received their COLA notice sometime in December with specific details on their case. A COLA of 2.5% will add about $48 to the average benefits check.
For more, don’t miss four ways you could lose your Social Security benefits and how to apply for SSI.
