Your SSDI payment does not go up automatically—you have to request a review

Social Security does not raise your SSDI payment just because you have been receiving it longer or because your living costs have gone up. The only automatic increase is the annual Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), which applies to everyone on the same schedule and is set by Congress, not by your request. If you want your payment to increase beyond COLA, you must ask Social Security to review your case and show that your circumstances have changed in a way that affects your benefit amount.

The most common reason for a payment increase is a change in your work history or earnings record. Social Security calculates your SSDI benefit based on your average lifetime earnings before you became disabled. If you have worked since you started receiving SSDI, those newer earnings may raise your average, which can increase your monthly payment. You can also request a review if your medical condition has worsened, though this is a separate process from a payment increase and may lead to a different outcome.

Key Takeaways

  • COLA increases happen once per year to all SSDI recipients at the same time, but you do not need to do anything to receive them—Social Security applies them automatically.
  • If you have worked and earned income since starting SSDI, you can request that Social Security recalculate your benefit using your updated earnings record.
  • Work incentives like Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) and Plans to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) can reduce what you owe back to Social Security and increase your take-home pay without changing your official benefit amount.
  • You must contact your local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213 to request a benefit recalculation; there is no online form to request this review.
  • Recalculations typically take 30 to 60 days, and Social Security will send you a new benefit verification letter showing the updated amount.

How COLA affects your payment each year

The annual COLA is a percentage increase applied to all Social Security benefits—both SSDI and retirement—on the same date each year. The percentage varies depending on inflation and is announced by Social Security in October for the following year. For example, if COLA is 3.2 percent and your current payment is $1,200 per month, your new payment would be $1,238.40 per month starting in January.

You do not need to request COLA or do anything to receive it. Social Security calculates and applies it automatically. Your new payment amount will appear in your bank account on the third of the month (or the first business day after if the third falls on a weekend or holiday). You will receive a notice in the mail showing your old and new payment amounts, usually in December for a January increase.

COLA is the same percentage for everyone, so it does not account for your individual situation. If your living costs have risen faster than the national average, or if you have other reasons to believe your payment should be higher, you must request a separate review of your benefit calculation.

Requesting a recalculation based on work history

If you have worked and earned income since you started receiving SSDI, Social Security may recalculate your benefit using your updated earnings record. Your SSDI amount is based on your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which comes from your average lifetime earnings. When you add new years of work, those earnings go into the calculation, and if they are higher than some of your earlier years, your average goes up and your benefit increases.

To request a recalculation, contact your local Social Security office by phone at 1-800-772-1213 or visit in person. You will need to provide your Social Security number and explain that you have worked since becoming disabled and want your benefit recalculated. Social Security will pull your earnings record and run the calculation. You do not need to submit pay stubs or tax returns unless Social Security asks for them to verify recent earnings.

The recalculation process takes 30 to 60 days. Social Security will send you a letter showing whether your benefit increased, stayed the same, or decreased (which is rare but possible if your new earnings are very low). If your benefit increases, the new amount will start on the first of the month following the approval date. If you disagree with the result, you can request an explanation or file an appeal.

Work incentives that increase your take-home pay

Two federal work incentives let you reduce the amount Social Security counts as income, which can increase the money you keep each month without changing your official SSDI payment amount. These are Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) and Plans to Achieve Self-Support (PASS).

IRWE lets you deduct the cost of items or services you need because of your disability in order to work. Examples include medications, therapy, medical equipment, transportation to work, or a personal assistant. You list these expenses, and Social Security subtracts them from your work income before calculating how much of your earnings will reduce your SSDI payment. If you earn $2,000 per month but have $600 in IRWE costs, Social Security counts only $1,400 as your work income for benefit purposes.

PASS is a written plan you create with a Social Security work incentives planner. It sets aside income and resources for a specific work goal—like starting a business, getting a degree, or buying equipment. Money set aside under a PASS plan does not count against your SSDI or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) limits. This can let you save money or earn more without losing benefits. PASS plans must be approved by Social Security and reviewed annually.

To use IRWE, contact your local Social Security office and ask for a form to list your work-related disability expenses. To set up a PASS, ask Social Security to refer you to a work incentives planner, who will help you write and submit the plan. Both processes are free.

When a medical improvement review might affect your payment

If your medical condition improves, Social Security may review your case to determine whether you still meet the disability standard. This is called a Continuing Disability Review (CDR). If Social Security finds that your condition has improved enough that you no longer may have access to for SSDI, your benefits will stop—your payment will not straightforward decrease. This is different from a recalculation based on work history.

Social Security schedules CDRs based on how likely your condition is to improve. If your condition is unlikely to improve, you may have a CDR every five to seven years. If improvement is possible, you may have one every one to three years. Social Security will send you a notice telling you when your review is scheduled and what information to submit.

If you receive a CDR notice and you believe your condition has not improved, you can submit medical evidence from your doctor. You can also request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge if you disagree with Social Security's decision. A CDR does not automatically increase your payment, but it can prevent your benefits from being stopped if you can show your disability continues.

What happens if you return to work

If you return to work while receiving SSDI, your payment does not stop when ready. Social Security has a Trial Work Period (TWP) that lets you test your ability to work without losing benefits. During the TWP, which lasts nine months, you can earn any amount and still receive your full SSDI payment. The nine months do not have to be consecutive.

After the TWP ends, Social Security uses a calculation called Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) to determine whether your work income is high enough to affect your benefits. If your earnings are below the SGA threshold (which changes each year), you keep your full SSDI payment. If your earnings are above it, your payment is reduced by $1 for every $2 you earn above the threshold. This reduction continues for a period called the Extended Period of may be able to access (EPE), which lasts 36 months.

After the EPE ends, if your earnings remain above SGA, your SSDI benefits will stop. However, you may be able to restart them quickly if your earnings drop below SGA again. Work incentives like IRWE and PASS can help you keep more of your earnings during this time.

How to contact Social Security about a benefit increase

You can request a benefit recalculation or ask about work incentives through three methods: by phone, in person, or online through your my Social Security account.

By phone: Call 1-800-772-1213 Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern Time. Have your Social Security number ready. Tell the representative that you want to request a recalculation of your SSDI benefit or ask about work incentives. The call usually takes 10 to 15 minutes.

In person: Visit your local Social Security office. You can find the address and hours on the Social Security website or by calling the main number above. Bring your Social Security card and a photo ID. Walk-ins are accepted, but wait times vary. You can also call ahead to schedule an appointment.

Online: If you have a my Social Security account, you can view your earnings record and see how much you have earned in recent years. However, you cannot request a recalculation online. You must call or visit an office to start the process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my SSDI payment go down if I request a recalculation?

It is very unlikely. Social Security recalculates using your updated earnings record, and new earnings almost always increase or leave your benefit the same. A decrease would happen only if your recent earnings are extremely low and pull down your lifetime average significantly, which is rare. You can ask Social Security to show you the calculation before it takes effect.

How much can COLA increase my payment?

COLA varies each year based on inflation. Recent COLA increases have ranged from 1.3 percent to 8.7 percent, but the percentage changes annually. Social Security announces the new COLA in October for the following year. You can check the Social Security website or call 1-800-772-1213 to find out the current year's COLA percentage.

Can I get a raise if I have not worked since I started receiving SSDI?

Not through a recalculation. If you have not earned income since becoming disabled, your benefit amount is fixed unless COLA applies. However, you may be able to increase your take-home pay through work incentives like PASS if you plan to return to work in the future. Contact a work incentives planner to explore your options.

What is the difference between a recalculation and a Continuing Disability Review?

A recalculation adjusts your benefit amount based on updated earnings and can increase your payment. A Continuing Disability Review examines whether your medical condition still qualifies you for SSDI and can result in your benefits stopping. They are separate processes with different purposes and outcomes.

How long does it take to see an increase after I request a recalculation?

The recalculation process typically takes 30 to 60 days from the date you request it. Social Security will send you a letter with the decision and the new payment amount. If approved, the increase will appear in your bank account on the third of the month following the approval date.