Millions of Americans who receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) will see their final 2025 payment arrive in December, and the schedule is already locked in. With a 2.5% COLA increase in place for all of 2025, SSDI beneficiaries will continue to receive higher checks than they did in 2024, with some disabled workers collecting up to $4,018 per month.
How SSDI Works in 2025
SSDI is a federal program that pays monthly benefits to workers who can no longer maintain substantial employment because of a qualifying disability, as long as they paid enough Social Security taxes over their working years. It is run by the Social Security Administration, which also manages retirement and survivor benefits. You can learn more directly from the Social Security Administration.
Every January, the Administration applies a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) so that benefit amounts keep pace, at least partially, with inflation. For 2025, that COLA was set at 2.5%, and that increase applies to every SSDI check paid during the year, including December.
December 2025 SSDI Payment Dates
SSDI follows the same payment calendar as regular Social Security retirement benefits for most recipients. Your birth date determines when your December 2025 money arrives.
If your birthday is on the 1st through the 10th, your SSDI payment is scheduled for Wednesday, December 10, 2025.
If your birthday falls between the 11th and the 20th, your payment date is Wednesday, December 17, 2025.
If you were born from the 21st through the 31st, your deposit will arrive on Wednesday, December 24, 2025.
These dates come from the official 2025 Social Security payment calendar. Because all three paydays fall on Wednesdays that are not holidays and do not border a weekend, there is no need to shift payments earlier or later. Your funds should arrive exactly on those dates, depending on your birthday.
How Much Is the Average SSDI Check in December 2025?
Your actual payment amount does not change month to month during the year. Whatever you received in January 2025 after the 2.5% COLA is the same benefit you will receive in December.
For 2025, the average SSDI benefit nationwide is around $1,580 per month, up from roughly $1,542 in 2024 after the COLA was applied.
The maximum SSDI check a single disabled worker can receive in 2025 is $4,018 per month. Only workers with high and consistent earnings near the Social Security wage cap for many years qualify for that level.
At the lower end, workers with limited or low-paying employment histories may receive around $967 per month, close to the federal minimum levels used in related programs.
SSDI Family Benefits and Combined Payments
In some households, a spouse or children also collect benefits on the disabled worker’s record. When that happens, the family maximum can rise to 150%–180% of the worker’s individual benefit. However, Social Security has strict rules that cap the total paid to one family so that combined benefits do not exceed what the formula allows.
It is important to remember that SSDI is completely separate from SSI (Supplemental Security Income). SSI is a needs-based program for people with very low income and limited assets, and it has its own rules.
For 2025, the maximum federal SSI payment is $967 per month for an individual and $1,450 per month for a couple. Some people qualify for both SSDI and SSI at the same time, but their combined monthly payment is adjusted so it never exceeds the SSI federal maximum.
You can review SSI and SSDI rules in more detail on the Social Security Administration’s website.
Practical Details: Medicare, Work Limits and 2026 COLA
After you have been on SSDI for two full years, you generally become eligible for Medicare. For most beneficiaries, the Medicare Part B premium is automatically deducted from the monthly SSDI payment, which means the amount deposited in your bank account is slightly lower than your gross benefit amount. More about Medicare coverage can be found via the official Medicare website.
If you return to work, earnings can affect your disability status. In 2025, making more than $1,620 per month from work can put your SSDI eligibility at risk because it exceeds the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) threshold for most beneficiaries.
Looking ahead, the 2026 COLA has already been set at 2.8%, which is expected to push the average SSDI check to around $1,624 beginning with the January 2026 payment.
For now, the key is to mark December 10, 17, or 24 on your calendar, based on your birth date, so you know exactly when your December 2025 SSDI payment will arrive.
The fastest way to confirm your own payment date and benefit amount is to log into your mySocialSecurity account online or call the Social Security Administration directly at 1-800-772-1213.
