The Social Security Administration (SSA) recently confirmed that Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries born between the 21st and 31st of any month will not receive their payment on April 23, 2025, as initially expected. While this is the third group in the monthly payment cycle, the delay is not due to a system-wide problem, but rather to individual case reviews.
Let’s take a look at what’s causing the delay, how SSDI payments are calculated in 2025, and what happens to these benefits when a recipient passes away.
SSDI April 2025 Payment Schedule Explained
The SSA divides SSDI payments across three groups based on birth dates:
- April 9, 2025 – for beneficiaries born between the 1st and 10th
- April 16, 2025 – for those born between the 11th and 20th
- April 23, 2025 – for those born between the 21st and 31st
This system ensures smooth payment distribution and helps avoid delays, especially in months with federal holidays. However, in April 2025, even with no holidays, some in the third group did not receive their payment on April 23.
Why the April 23 Payment Was Delayed for Some SSDI Recipients
While most SSDI payments were processed on time, the SSA mentioned a few reasons for individual delays, such as:
- Over payment adjustments
- Ongoing eligibility reviews
- Unresolved administrative disputes
These issues are case-specific and do not affect the entire group. If your payment was delayed and you are born between the 21st and 31st, you should contact the SSA or check your mySSA account for updates.
What Is the Maximum SSDI Payment in 2025?
In 2025, the maximum SSDI monthly benefit is $4,018. However, very few people actually receive this full amount because the conditions to qualify are very strict.
To receive the maximum SSDI benefit, a person must:
- Have worked for 35 years
- Have earned the maximum taxable income each year—set at $176,100 in 2025
This means you must have consistently contributed at the highest level to Social Security for over three decades. Most people have variable earnings over their careers, which results in a lower monthly payment.
How SSDI Payments Are Calculated
The SSA uses a two-step process:
Step 1: Calculate AIME (Average Indexed Monthly Earnings)
This adjusts your past wages for inflation and averages them.
Step 2: Apply the PIA Formula (Primary Insurance Amount)
The 2025 formula uses three segments:
- 90% of the first $1,226 of AIME
- 32% of the amount between $1,226 and $7,391
- 15% of anything above $7,391
The total is your PIA, rounded by SSA rules. This value becomes your SSDI benefit, unless other deductions apply (e.g. for Medicare or overpayments).
What Happens to SSDI Benefits When the Recipient Passes Away?
When an SSDI recipient passes away, the benefit does not automatically transfer to family members. However, some survivors may be eligible for Social Security survivor benefits, depending on their relationship and situation.
A surviving spouse, minor child, or dependent parent may receive monthly survivor benefits, but not the exact SSDI amount the person was receiving.
Retroactive Payments and Fairness Act Impact in 2025
The Social Security Fairness Act, effective since January 2025, aims to correct long-standing unfairness in benefits—especially for public workers like teachers, firefighters, and police officers.
Although this law mainly targets retirees, some SSDI recipients with dual eligibility—those who had public pensions not covered by Social Security—are also benefiting from it.
Key Highlights:
- 3.2 million dual-eligible beneficiaries are receiving retroactive adjustments.
- Payments began in March 2025, without affecting April’s regular payment cycle.
- Complex cases are under review and may be processed by November 2025.
Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) Removed
This law also eliminated the WEP, which previously reduced Social Security payments for those with public pensions. Starting April 2025, these public workers are receiving higher monthly payments.