SSDI payments grow automatically with cost-of-living adjustments

Your SSDI payment does not stay the same forever. Every year, the Social Security Administration raises payments by a percentage tied to inflation. This is called a cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA. You do not have to do anything to receive it — the increase happens automatically each January if there is one that year.

The COLA percentage changes yearly. In some years it is small (under 2 percent). In other years it is larger. The amount depends on how much prices rose for everyday goods and services during the previous year. If there is no inflation, there is no COLA that year, though this is rare.

You will receive a notice in December showing your new payment amount starting in January. The notice arrives by mail or through your online Social Security account if you have one set up.

Key Takeaways

  • SSDI payments increase automatically each January through a cost-of-living adjustment tied to inflation, with no action required from you.
  • Your payment can also increase if your work history changes — for example, if you worked and earned income before becoming disabled, and that year drops off your record.
  • Returning to work under certain conditions does not stop your SSDI; you may continue receiving reduced payments while you work part-time.
  • If you believe your payment is calculated incorrectly, you can request a recalculation by contacting Social Security with your work history records.

How your work history affects your payment amount

Your SSDI payment is based on your primary insurance amount, which comes from your lifetime earnings record. Social Security looks at your 35 highest-earning years. If you have fewer than 35 years of work history, they count zeros for the missing years, which lowers your payment.

As you age, older, lower-earning years can drop off your record and be replaced by higher-earning years. This happens automatically. For example, if you worked at minimum wage at age 20 and earned much more at age 30, that low-wage year eventually stops counting when you reach age 55 (35 years later). When it drops off, your payment recalculates upward.

You can view your earnings record on your Social Security account at ssa.gov. Look for the "Earnings Record" section to see which years are being counted and which are not. If you spot an error — a year where you earned income but it is not showing — you can request a correction by contacting your local Social Security office with pay stubs or tax returns as proof.

Working while receiving SSDI

You can work and still receive SSDI under specific conditions. Social Security has a program called Impairment Related Work Expenses, or IRWE, that allows you to deduct certain costs from your earnings before they count against your benefits. You also have a trial work period of nine months where you can earn any amount without losing benefits.

After the trial work period ends, you enter the extended may be able to access period, which lasts 36 months. During this time, you keep your SSDI for any month your earnings fall below a certain threshold (called the substantial gainful activity level). In 2024, that threshold is $1,550 per month for non-blind individuals, though this amount changes yearly.

If you work and earn above the threshold, your payment reduces or stops for that month. But it can restart in future months when your earnings drop below the limit again. This structure lets you test your ability to work without permanently losing your safety net.

To use these work incentives, you must report your work and earnings to Social Security. Contact your local office or call 1-800-772-1213 to discuss your specific situation before you start working.

Family payments based on your record

If you receive SSDI, certain family members may also receive payments based on your earnings record. These include your spouse (at any age if caring for your child under 16), your children under 19 (or 19 if still in high school), and your adult children if they became disabled before age 22.

Family payments do not increase your own SSDI amount, but they do count toward your household's total benefit. The total paid to your entire family cannot exceed a percentage of your primary insurance amount — usually between 150 and 180 percent, depending on your situation. If family members' combined payments would exceed this limit, each person's payment is reduced proportionally.

If a family member's circumstances change — for example, a child turns 19 or your spouse starts working — their payment stops or adjusts, but yours remains the same.

Requesting a recalculation if you think your payment is wrong

If you believe Social Security calculated your payment incorrectly, you can ask for a recalculation. This is different from appealing a denial. You are asking Social Security to review the math, not to reconsider whether you are disabled.

Start by contacting your local Social Security office in person or by phone at 1-800-772-1213. Bring or mention specific information: the years you worked, your earnings in those years (you can reference your tax returns or W-2s), and any periods you did not work due to illness or other reasons. Social Security will review your earnings record and recalculate if they find an error.

The process usually takes several weeks. If Social Security agrees an error was made, they will issue a new payment amount and may owe you back pay. If they disagree, they will explain why in writing.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) versus SSDI

If your SSDI payment is very low because you have little work history, you may also be able to receive Supplemental Security Income, or SSI. SSI is a separate program for people with disabilities, blindness, or age 65 and older who have limited income and resources.

SSI does not depend on your work history — it is a needs-based program. You can receive both SSDI and SSI at the same time if your SSDI payment falls below the SSI limit. The SSI payment tops up your SSDI to reach the federal minimum, which varies by state.

To explore whether you might be may be able to access for SSI, contact Social Security. They can review your situation and let you know if you meet the income and resource limits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my SSDI increase if I get older?

Not directly because of age. Your payment increases through annual cost-of-living adjustments and if your work history improves (older, lower-earning years drop off your record). Age itself does not trigger a raise, but these other factors often result in higher payments as you get older.

What happens to my payment if I go back to work full-time?

Your SSDI will stop if you work above the substantial gainful activity level for more than nine months (your trial work period). After that, you enter a 36-month extended may be able to access period where your payment adjusts based on monthly earnings. If you earn above the threshold, you lose that month's payment but can restart benefits in future months when earnings drop.

Can I get a lump sum payment instead of monthly checks?

No. SSDI is paid monthly only. You cannot request a lump sum or change your payment schedule. Payments are deposited directly to your bank account or sent by check, depending on how you set it up with Social Security.

If my spouse works, does that affect my SSDI?

No. Your spouse's income does not change your SSDI payment. However, if your spouse is also receiving benefits based on your record, their payment may adjust if their own earnings are high enough. Your payment stays the same regardless of what anyone else earns.

How do I know if my earnings record has errors?

Create an account at ssa.gov and view your earnings record online. It shows every year you reported income to Social Security. If you see a year where you worked but earned income is not listed, or the amount is wrong, contact Social Security with your tax returns or W-2s as proof and request a correction.