2024 Schedule of Social Security Benefit Payments | Atticus (2024)

Do you rely on your monthly Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits? If so, you’re probably wondering what your exact SSDI and SSI payment schedules are, what to do if your payment is late, or when to expect your back pay.

Below, we’ll walk you through your payment schedules for 2024 — and offer information about what to do if your payment doesn’t arrive when you expect it.

SSDI payment schedule

The Social Security Administration (SSA) delivers retirement benefits, survivors benefits, and disability benefits on different days throughout the month, depending on your birthday.

Below are the days of the month you can expect your payments based on your birthday. The SSA will follow this SSDI payment schedule in 2024.

What is the payment schedule for SSDI for 2024?

Your 2024 SSDI payments will come on the same day of the month as your 2023 payments. For example, if you received your payments on the third Wednesday of the month in 2023, they’ll still come on the third Wednesday of the month through 2024.

Which dates should you be on the lookout for your payment? We’ve broken that down below. You can also reference the SSA’s 2024 calendar.

2024 pay chart for SSDI and SSI

For people who started receiving benefits before May 1997 or people who receive both SSDI and SSI, the SSA will deliver SSDI payments on the third of the month and SSI on the first of the month, or the closest business day.

Will Social Security payments be higher in 2024?

Yes, the Social Security Administration (SSA) increases the value of its benefits based on inflation and cost-of-living increases each year. For 2024, the SSA's cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is 3.2%.

Beneficiaries of SSDI, SSI, Social Security retirement benefits, early retirement benefits, and VA disability benefits will automatically receive an increase of 3.2% for monthly payments.

Themaximum possible SSDI benefitis $3,822 per month in 2024, up from the 2023 max of $3,627 per month. With COLA, the maximum SSI benefit is $943 per month for an individual and $1,415 per month for a couple in 2024.

What is my Social Security disability benefits amount?

Your Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) benefits payment amount will depend on several factors, including your work record. The Social Security Administration (SSA) determines the amount of your benefits based on your average indexed monthly earnings (AIME) and the amount of Social Security taxes you have paid.

Check out this article on SSDI calculations for more information. You can find your exact payment amount through your mySocialSecurity account.

Social Security disability pay chart

For 2024, here are the average and maximum payment amounts for SSDI and SSI:

Social Security disability pay chart: SSDI amounts by state (2024)

The SSA is a federal organization — so they calculate your SSDI amount with the same formula in every state. That said, because average salaries and hourly wages vary based on location, knowing what people are getting in your home state can help you get a feel for what to expect.

Social Security disability pay chart: SSI amounts by state (2024)

Where you live doesn’t directly affect the value of your SSI payments — only your income does — but average benefits do vary by state. Some states also adminsiter supplemental payments — which you can read more about here.

What should I do if my disability payment is late?

If your disability payment is late, what you should do depends on your payment method. Direct deposit payments to bank accounts of Direct Express debit cards typically arrive on time. If you use direct deposit and your payment is late to your bank account, contact your financial institution.

If you receive a paper check in the mail and your payment is late, the SSA recommends you wait three days in case your check was delayed in transit.

If you do not receive your check within three days of your payment date, you can call the SSA at 800-772-1213 or visit your local Social Security office.

When will I get my SSDI back pay?

SSDI has a mandatory five-month waiting period after you’re qualified. While you won’t receive payments during that time, you are entitled to back pay. Back pay is past-due payments that cover your waiting period, which is the time when you were qualified for benefits but not yet approved to receive payments.

The SSA will usually deliver your back pay in a lump sum 60 days after your claim is approved. If your back pay is more than three times the maximum monthly SSI payment ($943 in 2024), you’ll receive three separate payments six months apart, the first of which will arrive 60 days after your approval.

I haven't been approved for disability yet — when can I get paid?

You won't receive any disability payments until after your application is approved. Unfortunately, the process of getting approved for disability can take two years.

Your chances of approval increase as you move through the process. For example, only about 20% of initial applications are approved, but just over 50% of cases that made it to a court hearing in 2022 were approved.

A disability lawyer can help determine your eligibility and navigate the application process. Applicants with lawyers are three times more likely to win benefits and a lawyer can help, whether you're filing for the first time or need to appeal a denial.

Other resources for SSI/SSDI applicants and recipients

Getting approved for disability takes a long time. If you need help paying your bills or getting housing right now, start with this list of state and federal resources for people with disabilities.

If you're planning to receive benefits and have questions about taxes, we have a quick guide on whether or not your benefits are taxable.

Find disability help in your state