January 2025 SSDI Payment Schedule with COLA Increase: What You Need to Know
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has already distributed all SSDI payments for recipients who began receiving disability benefits before May 1997, with payments issued on December 3. Those receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) received their payment at the same time. For recipients who began collecting SSDI benefits after April 30, 1997, and were born between the 1st and 10th of any month, their payment was made on December 11, 2024.
Looking ahead to January 2025, SSDI recipients should prepare for their upcoming payments. The average SSDI payment will increase by about $38, bringing the new average monthly payment to approximately $1,580. However, if your payment is lower, such as $500, your new monthly benefit will be adjusted to around $512.50 after the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) increase.
SSDI January Payment Schedule
The first SSDI payment for January 2025, reflecting a 2.5% COLA increase, will be issued on January 3, 2025. This will be the first payment of the year. SSI recipients will receive their January payment on December 31, 2024.
Following the January 3 payment, SSDI recipients will have additional payment dates:
- January 8, 2025: Payments for those born between the 1st and 10th of the month.
- January 15, 2025: Payments for those born between the 11th and 20th of the month.
- January 22, 2025: Payments for those born between the 21st and 31st of the month.
SSDI Eligibility and Payment Amounts in January 2025
To qualify for SSDI, individuals must have worked long enough to accumulate sufficient work credits and must be unable to work for more than a year due to a medical condition. If you’ve never worked or don’t have enough work credits, you may be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) instead.
In January 2025, the maximum SSDI payment will increase to $4,018, up from $3,822 in 2024. However, most recipients will receive a smaller amount based on their work history, earnings, and the age at which they filed for benefits. The average SSDI payment is expected to be about $1,580, but the exact amount will vary for each recipient.
To sum up, SSDI recipients should be aware of their updated payment amounts and the adjusted schedule for January 2025. Those who qualify for SSDI will receive their first payment of the year on January 3, with payments continuing throughout the month based on their birthdate.
