Social Security Security Disability Income (SSDI) is a benefit intended for people who have worked enough in the past and have a disability that prevents them from working substantially. SSDI is designed to provide financial support to those who, due to physical or mental limitations, are unable to meet normal job demands.
SSDI benefits offer a constant and stable source of income for those who have contributed their respective payroll tax payments, but who are currently experiencing some type of disability that prevents them from continuing to work. In parallel, beneficiaries who receive SSDI financial support can qualify for Medicare, regardless of their age, generally 24 months after receiving their first benefits. This facilitates access to necessary medical care that, in the United States particularly, is expensive, and even more so for people with a disabling medical condition.
SSDI Also Offers Incentives to Return to Work
SSDI also offers incentives to return to work when they are in the final stages of their disability. Through programs like Ticket to Work, beneficiaries have the opportunity to receive training and assistance to re-enter the workforce without immediately losing their benefits.
These programs help beneficiaries transition from a situation of dependency to one of financial independence, as long as their medical condition allows it and they can work again.
SSDI Disability Benefit Payment Dates in September 2024
Every month, three groups of SSDI beneficiaries receive their payments together with Social Security beneficiaries (retirees), and are grouped based on their dates of birth:
- If you were born between the 1st and 10th of the month, you will generally receive your payment on the second Wednesday of the month, which was September 11th.
- If you were born between the 11th and 20th of the month, you will receive your payment on the third Wednesday of the month. In this case, the payment date would be September 18, 2024.
- If you were born between the 21st and 31st of the month, you will receive your payment on the fourth Wednesday of the month, which corresponds to September 25, 2024.
Social Security Benefits Estimated to Rise by 2.5% in 2025
If you are a Social Security or SSDI beneficiary, you should already be looking forward to the new cost of living adjustment (COLA) increase that applies every year to all Social Security benefits, from retirement and SSDI to Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
The COLA adjustment is calculated based on the average inflation of the third quarter compared to the same period of the previous year, using the CPI-W price index, elaborated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). If there is a percentage increase between one year and the next, this translates into an increase in Social Security benefits.
To date, organizations defending retirees and social security beneficiaries have calculated that an increase of 2.5% could be expected in all benefits by 2025. With this increase, the average benefits would be as follows:
| Type of Beneficiary | Average Check 2024 (as of June) | Estimated Average Monthly Increase in 2025 | Estimated Average Check Amounts for 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retiree | $1,920.48 | $48.01 | $1,968.49 |
| Retired couple, both receiving benefits | $3,840.96 | $96.02 | $3,936.98 |
| Disabled worker | $1,539.92 | $38.50 | $1,578.42 |
| Widow | $1,784.56 | $44.61 | $1,829.17 |
| Children of deceased workers | $1,103.59 | $27.59 | $1,131.18 |