If you receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), it’s important to know when your payments arrive and how recent updates could affect your benefits.
In May 2025, the Social Security Administration (SSA) confirmed the official SSDI payment dates based on beneficiaries’ birthdates. Alongside this, new limits for income, benefit amounts, and trial work programs were also announced.
Here’s everything you need to know about May’s payment schedule, the latest SSDI figures, and the trial work period that allows beneficiaries to return to work without immediately losing their benefits.
SSDI Payment Dates for May 2025
SSDI payments are scheduled based on your birthdate unless you started receiving benefits before May 1997 or receive both SSDI and SSI. In those special cases, your payment may come earlier.
For May 2025, the SSA has confirmed the following schedule:
- May 14: Payment for beneficiaries born between the 1st and 10th
- May 21: Payment for those born between the 11th and 20th
- May 28: Payment for people born between the 21st and 31st
These dates follow the usual Wednesday distribution cycle. If your birthday falls within one of these ranges, you can expect your SSDI direct deposit on the matching date.
How Much Can You Receive from SSDI in 2025?
SSDI benefit amounts vary depending on your work history and previous income. Here are the key numbers for 2025:
- Maximum SSDI benefit: $4,018 per month (for high-income earners)
- Average monthly benefit: $1,580
These amounts reflect adjustments based on economic trends and inflation. If you’re a long-term contributor to the Social Security system with higher earnings, you may be eligible for the maximum benefit.
New Income Limits for 2025: What You Need to Know
The Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limit helps determine whether someone can still qualify for SSDI while working. In 2025, the SGA levels are:
- $1,620 per month for non-blind individuals
- $2,700 per month for blind individuals
If your income from work goes above these limits, you may lose SSDI eligibility. However, there are ways to test your ability to work without immediately stopping your benefits.
Trial Work Period Explained
The SSA offers a Trial Work Period for SSDI beneficiaries who want to try working again. You can work for up to nine months and keep your SSDI payments, even if your earnings go over the SGA limit.
To qualify for this period in 2025, your monthly income must be above $1,110. Each month you earn more than that counts toward your nine-month trial period. Once the trial ends, the SSA reviews your situation to see if you can continue receiving benefits based on your earnings and disability status.
If your attempt at returning to work doesn’t work out, you can ask for your SSDI to be restarted anytime within 36 months without needing to reapply from the beginning—this is called Expedited Reinstatement.
Support for Returning to Work: Ticket to Work Program
The Ticket to Work program is another useful SSA service. It offers free job training, career counseling, and support to SSDI recipients who are trying to return to the workforce. The goal is to make the transition smoother for people who have been away from work due to disability.
The SSA encourages reporting any attempts to work, even during the trial period, to avoid overpayments or errors in your benefit status.
Can You Get Both SSDI and SSI?
Yes, it’s possible to receive both SSDI and SSI, especially if your SSDI payment alone doesn’t cover your basic living costs. SSI helps fill the gap by offering additional support to people with limited income and resources.
Maximum monthly SSI amounts in 2025:
- Individuals: $967
- Couples (joint claim): $1,450
These payments can help cover essential expenses like rent, utilities, food, or medication when SSDI alone isn’t enough.