The Social Security Administration (SSA) has shared an important update for people who receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) payments. If your birthday falls between the 21st and 31st of any month, you will not receive your April 2025 payment on April 23, as many expected.
Let’s understand what’s happening and why some people might see a delay in their payment, along with how SSDI amounts are calculated and what happens when a beneficiary passes away.
When Were April 2025 SSDI Payments Sent?
SSDI payments are sent out in stages depending on the recipient’s birthdate. Here’s the payment schedule for April 2025:
- Those born between the 1st and 10th got their payment on April 9.
- Those born from the 11th to 20th received their payment on April 16.
- Those born from the 21st to 31st were expected to be paid on April 23, but the SSA has now confirmed they will not receive it on that date.
Even though there were no major federal holidays this month to delay payments, the SSA said some individual issues like previous overpayments, ongoing eligibility reviews, or disputes could cause payment delays for certain people.
What Is the Maximum SSDI Payment in 2025?
In 2025, the maximum SSDI monthly payment is $4,018. However, very few people actually receive this full amount. That’s because getting the maximum requires:
- Working for at least 35 years
- Earning a high income every year, close to the taxable income cap, which is $176,100 in 2025
The more you earn and contribute to Social Security over time, the more you can get in return.
How Does the SSA Calculate SSDI Benefits?
SSDI benefits are calculated using two main steps:
Step 1: AIME (Average Indexed Monthly Earnings)
The SSA adjusts your past earnings for inflation and finds your average monthly income.
Step 2: PIA (Primary Insurance Amount)
This uses a formula based on three income levels or “breakpoints” in 2025:
- 90% of the first $1,226
- 32% of income between $1,226 and $7,391
- 15% of income over $7,391
All these amounts are added together to find your final monthly benefit.
What Happens When an SSDI Beneficiary Passes Away?
If an SSDI recipient dies, their family does not automatically inherit the full monthly benefit. However, some survivor benefits may be given to a spouse, children, or dependents, depending on the situation.
In 2025, the Social Security Fairness Act brought some changes, especially for people who also have other pensions not covered by Social Security, like retired teachers or firefighters.
How the New Law Helps Retired Workers
Starting January 2025, around 3.2 million people who qualify for both Social Security and a non-covered pension began receiving extra payments. This includes a retroactive amount processed in March 2025.
From April onwards, monthly SSDI amounts for these workers went up due to the removal of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). This rule used to reduce payments for workers with jobs outside Social Security.
The SSA hopes that by removing WEP, everyone is treated more fairly when their benefits are calculated.
April 2025 has brought some changes to Social Security Disability Insurance payments. While many people received their money as planned, some delays affected those born between the 21st and 31st. These delays are due to personal cases, not system-wide problems.
The maximum benefit amount in 2025 is $4,018, but only those with high lifetime earnings will receive that much. With new laws like the Social Security Fairness Act in effect, many retired workers will see improved benefits in 2025. These updates show how the SSA is working to make Social Security fairer for everyone.