SSDI payments have increased most years since 2018, but the size of each increase depends on the annual cost-of-living adjustment
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) payment amounts are not fixed year to year. Instead, they rise or fall based on the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA), which the Social Security Administration announces each October for the following year. Since 2018, SSDI payments have gone up in most years, though the increase has varied widely — from as little as 1.3% in 2022 to as much as 8.7% in 2023.
Your own payment amount changes automatically on January 1 each year if a COLA is in effect. You do not need to do anything to receive the increase. The amount you receive depends on your work history and the age at which you became disabled, not on the COLA itself — the adjustment straightforward scales whatever your personal benefit amount is.
If you want to know whether your specific payment went up and by how much, you can check your Social Security account online at ssa.gov, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213, or review your annual Social Security Statement.
Key Takeaways
- SSDI payments increased in every year from 2018 through 2024 except 2016 and 2017, when there was no COLA.
- The size of the increase is set by the Cost-of-Living Adjustment, announced each October and applied January 1 of the following year.
- Your payment amount is based on your work history and disability onset age, so two people with the same COLA increase will see different dollar amounts added to their checks.
- You can view your current payment amount and historical adjustments in your Social Security online account or by calling 1-800-772-1213.
Year-by-year COLA increases from 2018 to 2024
The following table shows the COLA percentage for each year since 2018. Remember that this percentage applies to your personal benefit amount, whatever it is.
| Year | COLA Percentage | Effective Date |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 2.0% | January 1, 2018 |
| 2019 | 2.8% | January 1, 2019 |
| 2020 | 1.6% | January 1, 2020 |
| 2021 | 1.3% | January 1, 2021 |
| 2022 | 5.9% | January 1, 2022 |
| 2023 | 8.7% | January 1, 2023 |
| 2024 | 3.2% | January 1, 2024 |
The 2023 increase was notably large because inflation had risen sharply in 2022. The 2024 increase was smaller as inflation moderated. The COLA for 2025 will be announced in October 2024 and take effect January 1, 2025.
How the COLA is calculated
The Social Security Administration calculates the COLA based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Specifically, Social Security compares the average CPI-W for the third quarter (July, August, September) of the current year to the average for the third quarter of the previous year.
If inflation has risen, the percentage increase becomes the COLA. If the CPI-W has fallen or stayed flat, there is no COLA that year — your payment stays the same. This happened in 2016 and 2017, when there was no adjustment.
Social Security announces the COLA in mid-October each year. The adjustment then takes effect on January 1. This means you will see the new payment amount reflected in your January check.
What changed in SSDI rules or payment structure since 2018
Beyond the annual COLA adjustments, the rules governing SSDI payments themselves have remained largely the same since 2018. You still receive your full benefit amount each month if you are not working or earning above the substantial gainful activity (SGA) limit. The SGA limit itself changes each year — it was $1,470 per month in 2024 — but this is separate from the COLA and affects only people who are working.
One significant change came in 2023 when Social Security began allowing people to view their SSDI account and manage certain details online through a personal my Social Security account. This does not change your payment amount, but it does make it easier to track your benefits and see your payment history without calling or visiting an office.
Windfall Offset and Government Pension Offset rules, which reduce SSDI payments for certain people who also receive other government benefits, have not changed since 2018. If you receive a government pension from work not covered by Social Security, your SSDI payment may be reduced — but this is a separate calculation from the COLA.
How to check if your payment increased
The easiest way to confirm your payment increased and by how much is to log into your my Social Security account at ssa.gov. You will need to create an account with a username and password, or sign in using your existing credentials. Once logged in, you can view your current payment amount and see a history of payments going back several years.
If you do not use online accounts, you can call Social Security's toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern Time. A representative can tell you your current payment amount and explain any recent changes. You can also visit your local Social Security office in person, though calling ahead is recommended to avoid a long wait.
Your annual Social Security Statement, mailed to you each year, also shows your payment amount and any adjustments from the previous year. If you have not received one recently, you can request it through your online account or by calling the number above.
Why your payment might have changed for reasons other than COLA
Not every change to your SSDI payment is due to the annual COLA. Your payment can also change if you reach full retirement age, at which point your SSDI benefit converts to a retirement benefit at the same amount. This is automatic and is not a reduction — it is straightforward a change in the program name.
Your payment can also change if you report work income to Social Security. If you earn above the SGA limit, your benefits may be suspended for months in which you exceed that limit. Once your earnings drop below SGA again, your benefits resume. This is not a permanent reduction, but it does affect your monthly check.
In rare cases, Social Security may recalculate your benefit amount if they discover an error in your work record or if you request a recalculation based on additional earnings. These recalculations are not tied to the COLA and happen outside the normal annual adjustment cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my SSDI payment go up every year?
Your payment will increase most years because inflation usually rises year to year. However, if inflation is flat or negative, there may be no COLA that year and your payment stays the same. This last happened in 2016 and 2017. Social Security announces the COLA each October for the following year.
How much will my payment increase in 2025?
The COLA for 2025 will be announced in October 2024 and will take effect January 1, 2025. You can check the Social Security website in October to see the announced percentage, then multiply your current payment amount by that percentage to estimate your new amount.
If I was receiving SSDI in 2018, did I automatically get the 2.0% increase?
Yes. If you were on SSDI on January 1, 2018, your payment automatically increased by 2.0% that month. You did not need to do anything. The same is true for every year since — the COLA is applied automatically to all beneficiaries.
Can I find out what my SSDI payment was in a specific year?
Yes. Your my Social Security online account shows your payment history going back several years. You can also call 1-800-772-1213 and ask a representative to provide your payment amount for a specific month or year.
Does the COLA increase explore to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) as well?
Yes. SSI recipients also receive the same COLA increase as SSDI recipients, applied on the same date. However, SSI has a different payment structure and maximum benefit amount, so the dollar increase may look different even though the percentage is the same.