Social Security SSDI benefits will be distributed on the second, third, and fourth Wednesdays of March 2025, namely the 12th, 19th, and 26th. Dates are based on the beneficiary’s birth date.
According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), payments will be made on the 12th for those born from 1 to 10, the 19th for those born from 11 to 20, and the 26th for those born from 21 to 31.
This system, which has been in place since 1997, helps to avoid disbursement congestion. The SSA explains that scheduling birthday payments simplifies logistics. Beneficiaries who registered before May 1997 receive payments on the third, as detailed in SSA Kansas City Region: Paying Monthly Benefits.
SSDI benefits are distributed by date of birth
New beneficiaries are allocated on the basis of their birthday. The blog “Disability Secrets: How Are Payment Dates Chosen for SSDI and SSI?” confirms the method’s efficiency.
The SSA keeps this structure in place to avoid overloads, but not everyone understands how it works. Payments are scheduled automatically, without the user having to take any additional actions.
The maximum Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefit for 2025 is $4,018 per month. This is an increase from $3,822 in 2024.
SSDI Disability Benefit Requirements in 2025
To be eligible for SSDI in 2025, a person must meet two criteria: have a medical condition that the SSA considers a disability, and have a sufficient work history measured in work credits. The SSA defines disability as a condition that prevents the individual from engaging in substantially gainful activity (SGA) for at least 12 months or is expected to result in death.
In 2025, SGA is defined as earning more than $1,620 per month for non-blind individuals and $2,700 for those considered blind under SSA rules, according to the SSA blog “Who can get disability benefits.”
This definition ensures that only those who cannot work due to a medical condition are eligible. For example, if someone works and earns more than the SGA limit, they are not considered disabled under SSDI, despite having a medical condition.
The SSA also states that the duration of the disability must be significant, and benefits can be paid retroactively up to 12 months prior to application if all requirements are met.
In addition to medical criteria, work history is measured using work credits, which are obtained by paying Social Security taxes on income. In 2025, one credit is earned for every $1,810 of income in a quarter, with a maximum of four credits per year, which requires an annual income of $7,240.
Work credit requirements vary according to age at onset of disability. Individuals under the age of 24 must have earned at least 6 credits within the last three years before becoming disabled. This is equivalent to 1.5 years of work, with each year contributing up to 4 credits.
For example, if a 22-year-old becomes disabled, they must have worked enough in the last three years to earn six credits, which could be as simple as working half a year and earning two credits per year for three years.