July 2025 brings not only hot summer days but also important updates for over 5.6 million Americans who receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). If you’re one of them, here’s everything you need to know—especially about the final deadline to switch from paper checks to electronic payments.
When Will SSDI Payments Be Sent in July?
SSDI payments follow a fixed monthly schedule based on your birthday. If you started getting benefits after May 1997, your July 2025 SSDI payment will be sent on one of the following dates:
Wednesday, July 9 – If your birthday is between the 1st and 10th
Wednesday, July 16 – If your birthday is between the 11th and 20th
Wednesday, July 23 – If your birthday is between the 21st and 31st
These dates apply to people who receive their money through direct deposit or the Direct Express debit card. If any of these dates fall on a public holiday, payments are made one day earlier.
How Much Will You Get in SSDI?
The amount of SSDI you receive depends on your past work and how much you contributed to Social Security through taxes.
The maximum possible SSDI payment in July 2025 is $4,018 per month. However, this is only for people who earned very high salaries for many years and retired at full retirement age (67 in 2025).
Most people get an average of about $1,580 per month. If you have dependent children or a spouse, your total family payment could go up to $2,826, depending on your specific case.
Big Change Coming: Paper Checks Ending Soon
Here’s the most urgent news—paper checks will be completely stopped starting October 1, 2025. The U.S. government announced this under a modernization plan to make all federal payments digital.
If you still receive paper checks for your SSDI, you must switch to electronic payments by September 30, 2025. After that, checks will no longer be mailed.
How to Switch to Electronic Payments
You have two main options:
Direct Deposit – You can have your money sent directly to your bank account. Set this up at ssa.gov or call 1-800-772-1213. You will need your account and routing numbers.
Direct Express Card – If you don’t have a bank account, apply for this special government debit card. Your SSDI amount will be loaded automatically each month.
In some cases, other electronic wallets that support Social Security payments may be used, but you should ask your service provider first.
SSDI Eligibility in 2025: Do You Still Qualify?
To qualify for SSDI, two major rules apply:
1. Work Credits:
You usually need 40 work credits, with 20 earned in the last 10 years. In 2025, for every $1,810 you earn, you get 1 credit. You can earn up to 4 credits in a year.
Younger workers need fewer credits. For example, someone aged 25 who became disabled might qualify with just 6 credits earned in the last 3 years.
2. Medical Disability:
Your medical condition must be serious enough to:
Be on the SSA’s official list, or
Prevent you from doing any work for at least 12 months, or
Be expected to lead to death.
You must also earn less than:
$1,620/month (if not blind)
$2,700/month (if legally blind)
If you earn more than this, you may be disqualified or lose your benefits.
Some fast-track approvals exist for terminal illnesses or conditions on the Compassionate Allowances list.