The 2024 COLA increase for SSDI was 3.2 percent

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) payments increased by 3.2 percent in January 2024. This means if you received a monthly SSDI check in December 2023, your January 2024 payment was 3.2 percent higher. The increase applied automatically — you did not have to do anything to receive it.

The 3.2 percent figure came from the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), which Social Security calculates each year based on inflation data from the previous summer and fall. The 2024 COLA was smaller than the 2023 increase (which was 8.7 percent) because inflation slowed during the months Social Security used to measure it.

If you are on SSDI, you received this raise on your regular payment schedule. If you also receive Medicare, your Part B and Part D premiums may have changed in January 2024 as well, which could have offset some of your raise.

Key Takeaways

  • SSDI payments went up 3.2 percent in January 2024, and the increase was added to your regular monthly check automatically.
  • The COLA amount changes every year based on inflation measured from July through September of the previous year.
  • If you are on both SSDI and Medicare, your Part B premium increase in 2024 may have reduced the net gain from the COLA raise.
  • You can find your exact new payment amount by logging into your Social Security account or calling 1-800-772-1213.

How the 3.2 percent was calculated

Social Security measures inflation using the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). This index tracks the cost of food, housing, transportation, medical care, and other goods and services that people buy. Each year, Social Security looks at the average CPI-W for July, August, and September, then compares it to the same three months from the previous year.

For the 2024 COLA, Social Security compared the summer and fall of 2023 to the summer and fall of 2022. Because inflation had cooled by mid-2023 compared to the same period in 2022, the increase was 3.2 percent rather than the much larger 8.7 percent from 2023.

This calculation happens automatically. Social Security announces the COLA percentage in October of each year, and the raise takes effect the following January for all SSDI recipients, retirees, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients.

What your new payment amount should be

To find your exact 2024 payment amount, log into your my Social Security account at ssa.gov. Your account shows your current monthly benefit and any changes made in the past year. You can also call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and speak to a representative who can confirm your new amount.

If you receive a paper check, your January 2024 check should reflect the 3.2 percent increase. If you receive direct deposit, the money went into your bank account on your regular payment date in January. If you notice your payment did not increase or the amount seems wrong, contact Social Security right away — errors in COLA calculations are rare but do happen.

How Medicare premiums affected your raise

If you are on both SSDI and Medicare Part B, Social Security automatically deducts your Part B premium from your SSDI check each month. In 2024, the Part B premium increased, which means more money came out of your check than in 2023. Depending on your situation, this premium increase may have eaten into or completely offset your 3.2 percent COLA raise.

The same applies if you are on Medicare Part D (prescription drug coverage). Your Part D premium can change year to year, and if it went up in 2024, that also reduced the net increase you saw in your SSDI payment. Social Security sends a notice in December each year showing your new premiums and how they will affect your January payment.

If you did not receive this notice or lost it, you can request a new copy by calling Social Security or logging into your my Social Security account.

Comparing 2024 to previous years

The 2024 COLA of 3.2 percent was the second raise in a row after historically low increases. In 2023, SSDI recipients received an 8.7 percent raise — the largest in four decades. In 2022, the increase was 5.9 percent. Before that, from 2009 to 2020, most years saw increases between 0 and 2.8 percent.

The 2024 increase was smaller than 2023 because inflation slowed. However, 3.2 percent is still above the average increase from the 2010s, when COLA raises were often under 2 percent. Whether future COLAs will be larger or smaller depends on inflation in the coming years — a factor Social Security cannot predict.

What to do if your payment seems wrong

If your January 2024 payment did not increase by roughly 3.2 percent, or if the amount is significantly different from what you expected, contact Social Security. You can report the issue by calling 1-800-772-1213, visiting your local Social Security office, or using your my Social Security account to send a message.

Have your Social Security number and your December 2023 payment amount ready when you call. Social Security can tell you when ready whether the COLA was applied correctly and, if there was an error, start the process to correct it. Errors are usually caught and fixed within one to two months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to do anything to get the 3.2 percent raise?

No. The COLA raise is automatic. If you are on SSDI, the increase was added to your January 2024 payment without any action on your part. You do not need to contact Social Security or fill out any forms.

Will I get a 3.2 percent raise again in 2025?

The 2025 COLA has not been announced yet. Social Security will announce it in October 2024. The 2025 increase will depend on inflation measured from July through September 2024 compared to the same months in 2023. It could be higher, lower, or the same as 3.2 percent.

If I started SSDI after January 2024, do I get the 3.2 percent raise?

Yes. Your first SSDI payment will already include the 3.2 percent COLA that went into effect in January 2024. You do not receive a separate raise later — the COLA is built into your benefit amount from the start.

Can I appeal if I think my 3.2 percent raise was calculated wrong?

You can contact Social Security to ask them to review your payment, but there is no formal appeal process for COLA calculations. Social Security uses the same formula for all recipients, so errors are uncommon. If Social Security finds a mistake, they will correct it and send you any back pay owed.

Does the 3.2 percent raise count as income for other benefits I receive?

It depends on the benefit. For Supplemental Security Income (SSI), COLA raises are excluded from income limits, so the increase does not affect your SSI payment. For other programs like Medicaid or housing information, the rules vary by state and program. Contact the program directly to ask how COLA raises are treated.