Your disability payment grows automatically each year, but the amount depends on when you started receiving benefits and how Social Security calculates the raise.

Social Security raises disability payments once per year through a process called a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA). This raise is automatic — you do not have to ask for it or do anything to receive it. The amount of the increase changes each year based on inflation, so some years the raise is larger and some years it is smaller. In 2024, for example, the COLA was 3.2 percent, but this figure varies year to year.

Your payment also grows if you earned more money while working before you became disabled. Social Security recalculates your benefit amount each year using your most recent earnings record. If you worked part-time or returned to work while on disability, those newer earnings might replace older, lower-earning years in the calculation, which can raise your monthly payment.

Key Takeaways

  • Every disability payment increases automatically each year through a Cost-of-Living Adjustment, with the exact percentage announced by Social Security in October for the following year.
  • The COLA amount varies year to year based on inflation and is the same percentage for all disability recipients — you cannot receive a different raise than anyone else.
  • Your payment may also increase if you have recent work earnings that replace lower-earning years in Social Security's calculation of your benefit.
  • You will see the new payment amount in your Social Security statement each December, and the raised amount begins in January.

When the COLA takes effect and how much it will be

Social Security announces the COLA percentage in mid-October each year. The raise then goes into effect the following January. You will receive a notice in December showing your new payment amount starting in January, or you can check your my Social Security account online anytime to see your current payment.

The COLA is calculated using the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), which measures inflation across the economy. If there is no inflation — or if inflation is negative — there is no COLA that year, and your payment stays the same. This has happened only a few times in recent decades, most recently in 2010, 2011, and 2016.

The COLA applies to all Social Security beneficiaries at the same rate, whether you receive disability, retirement, or survivor benefits. You cannot negotiate a higher raise or receive a different percentage than other recipients.

How recent work earnings can raise your payment

Social Security calculates your disability benefit using your highest 35 years of earnings. Each year, Social Security reviews your record and recalculates your benefit using your most recent earnings. If you worked while receiving disability benefits — either through a work incentive program or by earning under the substantial gainful activity limit — those newer earnings might replace an older, lower-earning year in the calculation.

This recalculation happens automatically. You do not need to report it or request it. If the new calculation results in a higher benefit, Social Security will adjust your payment. If the new calculation results in a lower benefit, your payment will not decrease — Social Security protects your current payment amount and only raises it if the new calculation is higher.

The amount of increase from work earnings depends entirely on how much you earned and which year's earnings it replaces. There is no set formula or maximum raise from this source.

The difference between COLA and other payment changes

A COLA is different from other reasons your payment might change. A COLA is automatic and happens to everyone. Other changes to your payment happen only in specific situations and require action from you or from Social Security.

Your payment might increase if you reach full retirement age while on disability (your benefit converts to a retirement benefit at the same amount), if you return to work and then stop, or if Social Security corrects an error in your record. Your payment might decrease if you earn too much money and lose your work incentive protection, or if you become ineligible for some other reason. These changes are separate from the annual COLA.

How to check your current payment and upcoming COLA

The easiest way to see your current payment and confirm the COLA has been applied is to log into your my Social Security account at ssa.gov. You can create an account online if you do not have one. Your account shows your current monthly payment, your payment history, and your Social Security statement.

You will also receive a notice in the mail in December showing your new payment amount for January. If you do not receive a notice and your payment does not increase in January when you expected it to, contact Social Security directly at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to confirm the COLA was applied to your account.

What happens if you disagree with your payment amount

If you believe your payment is wrong — either because the COLA was not applied, because your work earnings were not counted correctly, or for another reason — you can request that Social Security review your record. This is called a reconsideration. You have 60 days from the date on the notice you disagree with to request a reconsideration.

You can request a reconsideration by calling Social Security, visiting your local Social Security office, or submitting a written request. Social Security will review your case and send you a new decision. If you disagree with the reconsideration decision, you can appeal further, but you must act within the time limits Social Security provides in each notice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my disability payment ever go down because of COLA?

No. The COLA only raises payments or keeps them the same. If there is no inflation in a given year, your payment stays the same rather than decreasing. Social Security never reduces a disability payment because of the annual COLA adjustment.

Can I get a bigger COLA raise than other people?

No. The COLA percentage is the same for all Social Security beneficiaries. You receive the same percentage raise as everyone else on disability, retirement, or survivor benefits. The only way your payment can increase more than the COLA is through work earnings recalculation.

What if I worked and earned money while on disability — will that always increase my payment?

Not always. Social Security recalculates your benefit using your most recent earnings, but only if those earnings replace a lower-earning year in your top 35 years. If your recent earnings are lower than years already counted, or if all 35 of your highest-earning years are already included, the recalculation will not raise your payment.

When do I find out what next year's COLA will be?

Social Security announces the COLA in mid-October each year. You can find the announcement on the Social Security website or by calling 1-800-772-1213. The new COLA takes effect in January, and you will receive a notice in December showing your new payment amount.

What if I think Social Security made a mistake calculating my COLA or my work earnings?

Contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or visit your local office to ask them to review your record. You can also request a formal reconsideration within 60 days of any notice you disagree with. Social Security will investigate and send you a new decision.