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If you’re receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, it’s important to know exactly when and how your November 2025 payment will arrive.
This guide outlines the payment dates, the role of the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), how a federal shutdown might affect your payment, and what you should expect in terms of average and maximum benefit amounts.
November 2025 Payment Dates & Method
The Social Security Administration (SSA) issues SSDI payments electronically via direct deposit in most cases. Some beneficiaries still receive paper checks.
For November 2025:
- Payments correspond to benefits for November.
- Beneficiaries are paid according to their date of birth (for those who began receiving benefits after May 1997 and who are not receiving both SSDI and SSI).
- Birth dates 1 – 10: Payment on Wednesday, November 12
- Birth dates 11 – 20: Payment on Wednesday, November 19
- Birth dates 21 – 31: Payment on Wednesday, November 26
Since November 1 falls on a Saturday, for SSI payments the deposit is moved up to the prior business day (October 31); however, for SSDI payments tied to the “3rd of the month” schedule – e.g., disabled workers who began receiving payments before May 1997 or who also get SSI – the payment is made on Monday, November 3 (because the 3rd is a business day).
While no additional delay is scheduled for weekends or federal holidays in November 2025, the SSA advises allowing up to three extra days for mail in the case of checks.
COLA for 2025 and Its Effect on SSDI
The 2025 benefit year for SSDI includes a 2.5 % cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) that took effect in January and will remain in place through December. This adjustment helps ensure that SSDI payments keep pace with inflation.
Because the November payment is for the same benefit year, no further change is included for that month.
Impact of the Federal Government Shutdown on SSDI Payments
In the event of a partial federal government shutdown (in this case, planned for October 2025), SSDI payments are considered essential services and are processed via previously allocated funds. This means that regular SSDI payments should not be interrupted, even amid a shutdown.
The SSA has confirmed that electronic deposits will continue without significant delay. If you want to check your specific payment status, you can log into the “My Social Security” portal or call 1-800-772-1213.
In 2025, approximately 8.9 million people are receiving SSDI benefits, with total monthly payments exceeding $14 billion.
SSDI Average & Maximum Amounts in November 2025
- Maximum benefit for an individual disabled worker in November 2025: $4,018 per month.
- This applies to people who had the highest pre-disability earnings (based on 100 % of average retirement benefit at the maximum taxed earnings of $176,100 in 2025).
- For workers with dependents (spouse and/or children), the maximum can increase by up to ~50 %, subject to family-cap rules.
- Average benefit for SSDI recipients: Approximately $1,580 per month in 2025.
- Most disabled workers receive between $1,300 and $1,600 monthly, depending on their prior work history.
- Those with low prior earnings may receive as low as $967 per month.
- These amounts generally include deductions (such as for Medicare enrollment — roughly $174.70 in 2025, where applicable).
Since the November payment reflects the same benefit year and includes no interim change, the amounts remain at the COLA-adjusted 2.5 % levels.
What’s Ahead: The 2026 COLA
The $\mathrm{COLA}$ for 2026 will be announced in October each year, based on changes in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners (CPI-W) from July to September.
For 2026, the announcement originally scheduled for October 15, 2025, has been postponed to Friday, October 24, 2025.
At present the official COLA hasn’t yet been confirmed, but analysts estimate an increase of 2.7 % to 2.8 %.
If that 2.8 % figure holds, the average SSDI benefit could rise from about $1,580 to roughly $1,624 per month — an increase of about $44.
If you begin or change benefits after the COLA announcement, your payment may reflect the new rate.
Understanding the payment schedule for SSDI benefits and anticipating how COLA and government action might affect your payment is key to planning your finances.
For November 2025, if you receive SSDI, expect your payment to arrive on the date tied to your birth-date group (unless you’re in the special “3rd of the month” category).
Your benefit is calculated with the 2.5 % COLA that applied in 2025. Even amid a federal shutdown, SSDI payments are protected and will continue as usual. And finally, be aware that the 2026 COLA announcement could slightly raise your benefit in the coming year.
FAQs
When will I get my SSDI payment for November 2025 if my birthday is on November 15?
If your birthday falls between the 11th and 20th, your payment date for November is Wednesday, November 19.
Does the federal government shutdown stop SSDI payments?
No — SSDI is deemed an essential service. Payments are processed using previously allocated funds and are not interrupted by a partial government shutdown.
How is the SSDI benefit amount determined?
It’s based on your prior earnings record and the Social Security formula. For 2025, the maximum is $4,018/month for high earners, and the average is around $1,580/month. The 2.5 % COLA for 2025 applies to all ongoing benefits.