The 2026 SSDI payment increase has not been announced yet

Social Security announces the annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) in October of each year, and the 2026 figure will be released in October 2025. Until that announcement, no one knows what percentage increase SSDI payments will receive. The adjustment is based on inflation data from the third quarter of the year, so the exact number depends on economic conditions between now and then.

If you receive SSDI, your new payment amount will take effect in January 2026. You do not need to do anything to receive the increase — it happens automatically. Social Security will send you a notice in December 2025 showing your new monthly payment.

Key Takeaways

  • The 2026 COLA will be announced in October 2025 and will take effect on January 1, 2026.
  • The adjustment is calculated from inflation data and varies year to year — there is no way to predict it in advance.
  • Your payment increases automatically; you do not need to contact Social Security or take any action.
  • You will receive a notice in December 2025 showing your new benefit amount for 2026.

How the COLA is calculated each year

Social Security uses the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) to measure inflation. Specifically, it compares the average CPI-W for July, August, and September of the current year to the same three months of the previous year. That percentage increase becomes the COLA for the following January.

This means the 2026 COLA depends entirely on inflation between mid-2025 and mid-2026. If inflation is higher, the COLA is higher. If inflation is lower or if prices actually fall, the COLA could be lower or even zero. Since 1975, there have been three years with no COLA at all: 2010, 2011, and 2016.

The same COLA percentage applies to all SSDI beneficiaries. You cannot receive a different adjustment based on your individual circumstances or needs.

What happened with recent COLA increases

The 2025 COLA was 3.2 percent. The 2024 COLA was 3.2 percent. The 2023 COLA was 8.7 percent — the largest increase in four decades, driven by inflation following the pandemic. The 2022 COLA was 5.9 percent.

These recent years are not predictive of 2026. Each year's adjustment reflects only that year's inflation data. A high COLA one year does not mean the next year will be high, and a low COLA does not signal what comes next.

When you will find out the 2026 amount

Social Security announces the COLA in the second week of October each year. In October 2025, you will see the 2026 percentage announced on the Social Security Administration website and in news coverage. At that point, you can calculate your new payment by multiplying your current benefit by the COLA percentage and adding it to your current amount.

In December 2025, Social Security will mail you a notice (called a "Notice of Benefit Amount") showing your exact new payment for January 2026. If you have set up a my Social Security account online, you may see the updated amount there before the notice arrives.

How the increase affects other benefits tied to SSDI

If you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in addition to SSDI, your SSI payment also increases by the same COLA percentage. If you are the spouse or child of an SSDI beneficiary and receive a family benefit based on that person's record, your payment increases by the same percentage as well.

The COLA also affects the earnings limit for SSDI work incentives. For example, the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limit — the amount you can earn per month while still receiving benefits — increases each year based on the COLA. In 2025, the SGA limit is $1,550 per month for non-blind beneficiaries. The 2026 limit will be higher, but the exact amount will not be known until October 2025.

What to do if your payment amount seems wrong

After you receive your December 2025 notice, check that the new amount makes sense. Multiply your current benefit by 1 plus the COLA percentage (for example, if the COLA is 3 percent, multiply by 1.03). The result should match the amount on your notice, within a dollar or two due to rounding.

If the new amount is significantly different from what you expected, contact Social Security. You can call 1-800-772-1213, visit your local Social Security office, or log into your my Social Security account to send a message. Have your current benefit amount and the notice in front of you when you call.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I request a higher COLA increase than the standard amount?

No. The COLA is set by law based on inflation data and applies equally to all beneficiaries. Social Security cannot adjust it for individual circumstances, and you cannot petition for a different amount.

Will the 2026 COLA be higher or lower than 2025?

There is no way to know until October 2025. The COLA depends on inflation between July and September 2025, which has not occurred yet. Predictions based on current inflation rates are guesses and often prove wrong.

What if I disagree with the COLA calculation?

The COLA is calculated by law using the Consumer Price Index. If you believe Social Security made an error in explore the COLA to your specific benefit, contact them to review your account. General disagreement with the inflation measure itself would require a change to federal law, not a Social Security decision.

Does the COLA increase affect my Medicare premiums?

The COLA can indirectly affect your Medicare costs. Social Security uses a "hold harmless" rule that prevents your Medicare Part B premium from rising faster than your COLA increase. A larger COLA may mean more of your benefit increase goes to you rather than to Medicare.

When does the 2026 payment start?

Your new payment amount takes effect on January 1, 2026. You will receive the increased amount in your January 2026 payment, whether you receive benefits by direct deposit or check.