Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a monthly benefit provided by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to workers who can no longer perform regular work due to a disability. To qualify for SSDI, workers must have paid Social Security taxes for a long enough period and accumulated sufficient work credits.
A worker earns one credit for each $1,810 earned, with a maximum of four credits per year. Typically, 40 credits are required to qualify for SSDI, with 20 of those credits being earned in the last 10 years before the onset of disability.
Workers under the age of 24 may qualify with as few as 6 credits earned in the 3 years leading up to their disability, while workers between 24 and 31 generally need to have credits for half the time between the age of 21 and the time they became disabled.
SSDI Payment Dates for September
For SSDI recipients, the payment schedule follows specific rules based on birth dates:
Second Wednesday (September 10th): If your birthday falls between the 1st and 10th of any month, expect your payment on the second Wednesday of the month, which is September 10th.
Third Wednesday (September 17th): For those with birthdays between the 11th and 20th, your SSDI payment is scheduled for the third Wednesday of the month, which falls on September 17th.
Fourth Wednesday (September 24th): Those with birthdays between the 21st and 31st will receive their payment on the fourth Wednesday of the month, September 24th.
These same payment dates apply to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients as well. However, the benefit amounts differ between SSDI and SSI, and the way they are calculated also varies significantly.
SSDI Payment Amounts for 2025
For 2025, the maximum SSDI payment is $4,018 per month, though most recipients will receive less than this amount. As of August 2025, the average SSDI benefit is about $1,580 per month.
Keep in mind that your specific payment amount depends on your lifetime earnings and the amount you have contributed to the Social Security system through payroll taxes.
For example, someone with an Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME) of $13,689 might receive around $4,020, though this figure can be reduced if benefits are claimed before reaching full retirement age.
If You’re Still Receiving Paper Checks, Switch to Direct Deposit Now
While many people still prefer receiving paper checks, switching to direct deposit or the Direct Express card is strongly encouraged. Paper checks can be delayed, lost, or stolen, leading to unnecessary stress and complications. Moving to direct deposit ensures your payments are received securely, on time, and without hassle.
The SSA has made this transition to modernize and streamline its processes, ensuring benefits are distributed in the most secure and efficient way possible. If you’re still receiving paper checks, now is the time to switch.
Contact the SSA to set up direct deposit into your bank account or enroll in the Direct Express program—it’s a quick, easy, and free process that will make a big difference in the reliability of your payments.
