If you’re a U.S. citizen getting disability benefits from Social Security, you probably want to know exactly when your payment will arrive. The good news is that the Social Security Administration (SSA) follows a fixed payment calendar. This helps people know the exact day they’ll receive their monthly payment in their bank account.
The payment dates depend on which group of retirees you belong to. There are four different groups, and each group gets paid on a different day of the month. Knowing your group is important so you don’t miss when your money is coming.
Who Will Receive Disability Payments Today?
Today is one of the scheduled payment days—but only for a specific group. This group includes people who started receiving their Social Security retirement or disability payments before May 1997. These people fall under what is known as Group 1 retirees.
Even though today’s payment is mainly for disability beneficiaries, retirees who receive benefits due to age (not disability) but meet the same criteria can also get their checks today. So, it’s not the type of benefit that matters—it’s the date you first started receiving Social Security.
How Can You Receive Your Disability Check Today?
To receive your disability payment today, two conditions must be met:
You must have started getting your Social Security benefits before May 1997.
You should have Direct Deposit set up as your payment method.
If you meet both conditions, your money will be available today. However, if you’re part of Group 1 but don’t use Direct Deposit, don’t worry. Your check will still arrive soon—it may just take a few days longer to arrive by mail.
What About Other Groups?
If you started getting benefits after May 1997, you fall into Groups 2, 3, or 4. These groups have their own scheduled payment days, usually based on the date of birth of the recipient. So, even if your payment isn’t coming today, it will arrive on your group’s specific date later this month.
Maximum Disability Payment in April 2025
In 2025, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) payments have increased because of the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA). This is a yearly increase made to help payments keep up with inflation.
The maximum disability payment in April 2025 is $4,018 per month. However, not everyone qualifies for this high amount. To get this maximum benefit, a person must have worked for many years with high earnings before becoming disabled.
Most people will receive a lower amount, based on their past income and work history. But even if your payment isn’t at the maximum, you’ll still receive it on the scheduled date as long as you meet the basic requirements.