The 2026 COLA will increase SSDI payments by a percentage set in October 2025

The 2026 Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) will be announced in October 2025 and take effect in January 2026. The exact percentage is not yet known—it depends on inflation data collected through September 2025. The Social Security Administration calculates COLA each year based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), a measure of how prices for goods and services change month to month.

Your SSDI payment will increase by whatever percentage is announced, applied automatically to your January 2026 benefit. You do not need to do anything to receive the increase. If you receive SSDI, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or both, the same COLA percentage applies to all three programs.

For context: the 2025 COLA was 3.2 percent. The 2024 COLA was 3.2 percent. The 2023 COLA was 8.7 percent. COLA amounts vary year to year depending on inflation, so there is no way to predict the 2026 figure until the official announcement in October 2025.

Key Takeaways

  • The 2026 COLA percentage will be announced in October 2025 and will increase all SSDI payments starting in January 2026.
  • The increase is calculated from inflation data and applied automatically—you do not need to take any action to receive it.
  • COLA amounts change each year and cannot be predicted in advance; past years have ranged from less than 1 percent to over 8 percent.
  • If you receive both SSDI and SSI, both payments will increase by the same percentage.

How the COLA percentage is calculated

The Social Security Administration uses the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) to measure inflation. This index tracks the cost of food, housing, transportation, medical care, and other goods and services that working people buy. The SSA compares the average CPI-W for July, August, and September of the current year to the same three months from the previous year. If prices have gone up, the percentage increase becomes the COLA.

If the CPI-W shows no increase or a decrease, COLA is zero—your payment does not go down, but it does not increase either. This has happened in some years. The calculation is done the same way every year, with no exceptions or adjustments based on individual circumstances.

When you will see the increase in your bank account

SSDI payments are issued on the third of each month, or on the closest business day if the third falls on a weekend or holiday. The 2026 COLA increase will appear in your January 2026 payment. If you receive your payment by direct deposit, it will arrive on your regular payment date in January. If you receive a check, it will be mailed according to your birth date (the SSA staggered check delivery to spread the workload).

Your payment stub or online account at my Social Security (ssa.gov/myaccount) will show your new payment amount once the increase takes effect. You can log in anytime after January 1, 2026, to see the updated figure.

How COLA affects your work incentives and earnings limits

If you are working while receiving SSDI, the COLA increase does not change your Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limit for 2026—that is set separately by the SSA and announced at the same time as COLA. The SGA limit is the monthly earnings threshold above which the SSA considers you able to work and may stop your benefits. For 2025, the SGA limit is $1,550 per month for non-blind individuals and $2,590 for blind individuals. The 2026 SGA limit will be announced in October 2025.

Your COLA increase also does not affect the Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) program, which allows you to set aside income and resources for work-related goals without losing SSDI. PASS plans are reviewed individually, and COLA does not automatically change your plan limits.

COLA and SSI recipients on SSDI

If you receive both SSDI and SSI (called "concurrent" benefits), both payments increase by the same COLA percentage in January 2026. However, SSI has a Federal Benefit Rate (FBR)—a maximum monthly payment amount—that also increases with COLA. For 2025, the FBR is $943 per month for an individual and $1,415 for a couple. The 2026 FBR will be higher by the 2026 COLA percentage.

If your combined SSDI and SSI payment currently brings you to or above the FBR, the SSI portion may not increase dollar-for-dollar with COLA because of how the two programs interact. Your state may also supplement SSI with additional state funds, which have their own rules. Contact your local Social Security office or your state's SSI program if you need clarification on how COLA will affect your specific situation.

What to do if you think your payment is wrong after the increase

After January 2026, review your payment stub or my Social Security account to confirm the increase was applied. The new amount should be your previous payment plus the COLA percentage announced in October 2025. If the amount looks incorrect, contact the Social Security Administration by phone at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visit your local Social Security office in person.

Have your Social Security number and a recent payment stub or bank statement showing your SSDI deposit ready when you call. The SSA can tell you when ready whether the increase was calculated correctly. If there is an error, they can investigate and correct it, usually within one to two weeks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I find out what the 2026 COLA will be before October 2025?

No. The COLA percentage is calculated from inflation data through September 2025 and is announced in October 2025. Some news outlets and advocacy groups publish estimates based on partial-year inflation data, but these are guesses and often change as new data comes in. The official figure comes only from the Social Security Administration in October.

Will my SSDI increase if I am working?

Yes. COLA applies to all SSDI recipients regardless of work status. Your earnings do not reduce your COLA increase, though they may affect whether you continue to receive SSDI under the SGA rules. The COLA increase and your work status are separate matters.

What if COLA is zero in 2026?

If inflation is flat or negative, COLA can be zero, meaning your January 2026 payment will be the same as your December 2025 payment. This has happened in the past. Your payment will not decrease, but it will not increase either.

Does COLA affect my Medicare premiums?

SSDI recipients are covered by Medicare, and Medicare Part B premiums are tied to COLA in some cases. If your SSDI payment increases due to COLA, your Medicare Part B premium may increase as well, though the SSA has rules that limit how much your net payment can decrease due to premium increases. The details depend on your specific situation and will be explained in a notice you receive before the premium change takes effect.

How do I check my payment amount before and after the increase?

Log into your my Social Security account at ssa.gov/myaccount using your username and password. Under "Benefit Verification," you can see your current payment amount. After January 2026, the same page will show your new amount. You can also call 1-800-772-1213 to speak with a representative who can tell you your payment amount.