SSDI payments increased in 2022, but the raise was smaller than in previous years

Yes, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) payments went up in 2022. The increase was 5.9 percent, which meant the average monthly payment rose from around $1,282 in 2021 to approximately $1,358 in 2022. This annual adjustment is called a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), and it happens every year based on inflation.

The 5.9 percent raise was larger than the tiny increases of the previous few years—2021 saw only 1.3 percent, and 2020 saw 1.6 percent. But it was still smaller than the 8.7 percent increase that happened in 2023, which reflected much higher inflation that year. The amount you receive depends on your work history and how much you earned before you became disabled, so your individual payment may be higher or lower than the average.

Key Takeaways

  • SSDI payments increased by 5.9 percent in 2022 as part of the annual Cost of Living Adjustment.
  • The exact dollar amount of your raise depends on what you were receiving in 2021, which is based on your earnings record.
  • COLA adjustments happen automatically every January and are tied to inflation measured by the Consumer Price Index.
  • If you were receiving SSDI in December 2021, you saw the increase reflected in your January 2022 payment without having to do anything.

How the 2022 COLA was calculated

The Social Security Administration calculates COLA by looking at the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures how much prices for goods and services have risen. The agency compares the average CPI for the third quarter of the current year to the average CPI for the third quarter of the previous year. In 2022, that comparison showed a 5.9 percent increase in the cost of living.

This means if you were receiving $1,000 per month in December 2021, your payment in January 2022 would have been approximately $1,059. The Social Security Administration rounds the final payment amount, so your actual increase might be a few dollars higher or lower than the exact percentage would suggest.

Who received the 2022 raise

If you were receiving SSDI benefits in December 2021, you automatically received the 5.9 percent increase in January 2022. You did not have to request it, reapply, or contact Social Security. The raise was applied to your account and reflected in your payment that month.

The same COLA applies to everyone on SSDI, regardless of your age, the type of disability you have, or how long you have been receiving benefits. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients—a different program for people with disabilities who have very low income and resources—also received the same 5.9 percent increase.

What the 2022 raise meant for your benefits

The 5.9 percent increase helped offset some of the inflation that happened in 2021 and early 2022, when prices for groceries, housing, utilities, and other necessities rose significantly. However, many people on SSDI reported that the raise did not fully cover the actual increase in their living costs, particularly for rent and food.

If you are also receiving Medicare or Medicaid, the COLA increase did not affect your coverage or your may be able to access. Your medical benefits continued under the same terms. If you were working and earning income while on SSDI, the raise did not change the amount you could earn before your benefits were reduced.

How COLA adjustments work in other years

The COLA percentage changes every year because it is based on actual inflation data. In 2023, the adjustment was 8.7 percent—the largest increase in four decades—because inflation was much higher that year. In 2024, the adjustment was 3.2 percent, reflecting lower inflation. Future adjustments will depend on what happens to prices in the economy.

If inflation is very low or prices actually fall, there can be a year with no COLA increase at all. This happened in 2010, 2011, and 2016, when the CPI showed no growth or slight declines. In those years, SSDI payments stayed the same as the previous year.

Checking your 2022 payment amount

You can see your SSDI payment history and verify the 2022 amount by creating an account on ssa.gov and logging into your my Social Security account. This online portal shows your payment history month by month, so you can confirm that the COLA increase was applied correctly.

If you receive a paper check or direct deposit, your January 2022 payment should have reflected the new amount. If you believe your payment was incorrect or the COLA was not applied, you can contact Social Security by phone at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visit your local Social Security office in person.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does SSDI get a raise every year?

Yes, SSDI payments are adjusted every January based on inflation. The percentage varies each year. Some years the increase is large, and in rare years there is no increase at all if inflation is very low or negative.

Will I get a raise in 2025?

There will be a COLA adjustment in January 2025, but the percentage has not been announced yet. Social Security typically announces the new COLA in October of the previous year. You can check ssa.gov in October 2024 to see what the 2025 adjustment will be.

What if I started receiving SSDI after 2022?

You will receive the COLA adjustments that happen after you start receiving benefits. If you began SSDI in March 2022, you would receive the 2023 COLA in January 2023, the 2024 COLA in January 2024, and so on. You do not receive retroactive adjustments for years before you were on the program.

Does the COLA raise affect my work incentives?

The COLA increase does not change the amount you can earn while on SSDI. Your Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limit and other work incentive rules stay the same. However, your higher payment amount may affect how much you can earn under certain work incentive programs, so contact Social Security if you are working.

Can I appeal if I think my 2022 raise was wrong?

If your payment did not increase by approximately 5.9 percent in January 2022, contact Social Security to ask them to review your account. Errors are rare, but they do happen. Call 1-800-772-1213 or visit your local office with your payment records from December 2021 and January 2022.