The 2024 COLA raised SSDI payments by 3.2 percent
In October 2023, the Social Security Administration announced a 3.2 percent cost of living adjustment (COLA) for 2024. This means everyone receiving SSDI in January 2024 saw their monthly payment go up by 3.2 percent compared to what they received in 2023.
The actual dollar amount of your increase depends on what you were receiving before the adjustment. If you got $1,000 per month in December 2023, your January 2024 payment became $1,032. If you got $1,500, it became $1,548. The percentage stays the same for everyone, but the dollar increase is different for each person.
This adjustment happened automatically. You did not have to do anything to receive it, and you did not have to reapply or contact Social Security. The new amount straightforward appeared in your January 2024 payment.
Key Takeaways
- The 2024 COLA of 3.2 percent raised every SSDI payment by that same percentage, with the dollar amount depending on what you were receiving in 2023.
- The increase took effect in January 2024 with no action required on your part.
- COLA adjustments happen once per year and are based on inflation data from the previous year.
- Your new payment amount appears automatically in your bank account or payment method on the third of each month.
Why SSDI payments go up each year
Social Security adjusts SSDI payments once a year to keep up with the cost of living. When prices for food, housing, medicine, and other necessities rise, your payment rises too, so the money you receive stays roughly as valuable as it was the year before.
The adjustment is based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), which measures how much prices have changed over the past year. In 2023, prices rose faster than they had in decades, which is why the 2024 COLA was larger than in recent years. In years when inflation is lower, the COLA is smaller.
Congress does not vote on COLA each year. The law says Social Security must calculate it automatically using the CPI-W data, and the adjustment happens whether Congress acts or not.
How the 2024 increase compares to recent years
The 3.2 percent increase in 2024 was lower than the 8.7 percent increase that happened in 2023, but higher than most adjustments from 2010 to 2021. In those years, inflation was low, and some years had no COLA at all.
Here is how recent years compare:
| Year | COLA Percentage |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 3.2% |
| 2023 | 8.7% |
| 2022 | 5.9% |
| 2021 | 1.3% |
| 2020 | 1.3% |
The 2023 and 2024 adjustments were unusually large because inflation spiked after 2021. Before that, COLA increases were typically between 0 and 2 percent per year.
When you receive the 2024 increase
The 2024 COLA took effect on January 1, 2024, and the increased payment appeared in your account on the third of January. If you receive SSDI by direct deposit, the money went into your bank account. If you receive a check, it arrived by mail.
Your payment continues at the new 2024 amount every month unless something else changes — such as a change in your work income, a change in your living situation, or a change in your medical condition that affects your benefit amount.
What happens if you also receive other benefits
If you receive both SSDI and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you received two separate COLA adjustments. SSDI got the 3.2 percent increase. SSI received a different COLA percentage based on the same inflation data, but SSI's adjustment is calculated differently and may be a different amount.
If you receive SSDI as a family — meaning you get benefits as a spouse or child of a worker who is disabled, retired, or deceased — the 3.2 percent increase applied to your payment as well. Each family member's payment went up by 3.2 percent.
If you also receive a pension from work you did that was not covered by Social Security (sometimes called a "government pension"), your SSDI payment may be reduced by a portion of that pension. The COLA increase applies to your SSDI amount before that reduction is calculated.
How to verify your new payment amount
You can check your current SSDI payment amount by logging into your my Social Security account at ssa.gov. Once you log in, you can see your payment history and your current monthly amount.
If you do not have a my Social Security account, you can create one at ssa.gov/myaccount. You will need your Social Security number, email address, and a way to verify your identity — usually a phone number or address on file.
You can also call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to ask about your payment amount. Have your Social Security number ready when you call.
What to expect for future COLA adjustments
The 2025 COLA will be announced in October 2024 and will take effect in January 2025. The amount depends on inflation data collected throughout 2024, so it cannot be predicted now.
COLA adjustments are not may provide to increase every year. If inflation is negative (meaning prices fall), there would be no COLA increase, and your payment would stay the same. This has happened only three times since 1975.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to do anything to get the 2024 COLA increase?
No. The increase happens automatically and appears in your payment with no action required. You do not need to contact Social Security, reapply, or fill out any forms.
What if I think my payment amount is wrong?
Log into your my Social Security account at ssa.gov to check your payment history and current amount. If the amount looks incorrect, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to speak with a representative who can review your record.
Does the COLA increase affect my Medicare premiums?
Medicare Part B and Part D premiums are deducted from your SSDI payment. When your SSDI payment increases, your premiums may increase as well, depending on your income and other factors. The increase in your take-home payment may be smaller than the 3.2 percent COLA.
Will the 2025 COLA be higher or lower than 3.2 percent?
That depends on inflation in 2024. The 2025 COLA will be announced in October 2024. If inflation slows, the 2025 COLA will likely be lower than 3.2 percent. If inflation speeds up, it could be higher.
What if I was not receiving SSDI in January 2024?
If you started receiving SSDI after January 2024, your first payment is based on the current payment rates, which already include the 3.2 percent COLA. You do not receive the increase retroactively.