Yes, SSDI payments went up in 2022

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) payments increased by 5.9% in 2022. This was the cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, that Social Security announces each year in October for the following January. The 5.9% increase meant that someone receiving $1,000 per month in December 2021 would receive $1,059 per month starting in January 2022.

The increase was automatic — you did not need to do anything to receive it. If you were on SSDI in January 2022, the higher amount straightforward appeared in your bank account or check on your regular payment date.

This was one of the largest COLA increases in decades. For context, the 2021 COLA was 1.3%, and the 2020 COLA was 1.6%. The 5.9% jump in 2022 reflected inflation that had risen sharply through 2021 and early 2022.

Key Takeaways

  • SSDI payments increased 5.9% in January 2022, meaning a $1,000 monthly payment became $1,059.
  • The increase happened automatically with no action required from you.
  • COLA is calculated each year based on inflation measured by the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers.
  • The 2022 increase was significantly larger than the previous two years because inflation was higher.
  • Your new payment amount appeared in your regular January 2022 payment — you did not receive a separate notice or check.

How the 2022 COLA was calculated

Social Security calculates COLA by comparing the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from the third quarter of one year to the third quarter of the previous year. For the 2022 COLA, Social Security compared July, August, and September 2021 to July, August, and September 2020. The inflation measured in that comparison was 5.9%.

Social Security announced this number on October 13, 2021. The announcement happens every October, and the new payment amount takes effect the following January for all beneficiaries receiving SSDI, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and Social Security retirement benefits.

If inflation had been lower, the COLA would have been lower. If there had been deflation (prices falling), there would have been no COLA increase — Social Security does not reduce payments based on deflation, so the minimum COLA is zero.

Who received the 2022 increase

Everyone receiving SSDI in January 2022 received the 5.9% increase, regardless of how long they had been on the program or how much they were receiving. The increase applied to your primary benefit amount — the base payment Social Security calculates for you.

If you were receiving SSDI and also had a spouse or child receiving benefits based on your record, their payments increased by the same percentage. Family members' payments are calculated as a percentage of your primary benefit, so when your benefit went up, theirs went up proportionally.

If you were receiving SSDI in December 2021 but your payments stopped before January 2022 — for example, because you returned to work or your case was reviewed and closed — you did not receive the 2022 COLA increase for any months after your payments ended.

What the 2022 increase meant for work incentives and earnings limits

The 2022 COLA also affected the earnings limits that determine whether you can work while on SSDI. Social Security has two key earnings thresholds: the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) level and the Trial Work Period (TWP) monthly amount. Both are adjusted each year based on COLA.

In 2022, the SGA level — the amount of monthly earnings that can trigger a review of your disability — was $1,350 for non-blind beneficiaries and $3,568 for blind beneficiaries. These numbers were higher than in 2021 because of the COLA increase. The higher threshold meant you could earn more before Social Security would review whether you were still disabled.

The Trial Work Period amount in 2022 was $970 per month. During your nine-month Trial Work Period, you can earn up to this amount without affecting your SSDI payments, regardless of how much you earn in other months. This amount also increased from 2021 due to COLA.

How 2022 compared to other recent years

The 2022 COLA of 5.9% was substantially higher than the two years before it. In 2021, beneficiaries received a 1.3% increase. In 2020, the increase was 1.6%. The difference reflects how much inflation accelerated in 2021 compared to 2019 and 2020.

However, 2022 was not the largest COLA increase ever. In 1980, Social Security beneficiaries received a 14.3% increase. In 1975, the increase was 8%. These larger increases occurred during periods of much higher inflation in the broader economy. The 5.9% increase in 2022 was the largest since 1982.

After 2022, COLA amounts have varied. The 2023 COLA was 8.7%, reflecting continued high inflation. The 2024 COLA was 3.2%, reflecting lower inflation. Each year's increase depends on inflation measured in that specific year, so the amount changes annually.

What to do if you did not receive the increase

If you were receiving SSDI in January 2022 and did not see a 5.9% increase in your payment, contact Social Security directly. You can call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to speak with a representative. Have your Social Security number and recent payment statements ready.

Possible reasons your payment might not have increased by the full 5.9% include: your case was under review and your payment was adjusted for other reasons, you had a change in family composition (for example, a family member's benefit ended), or there was an error in how the increase was applied. Social Security can review your account and explain what happened.

If you believe there was an error, you can also visit your local Social Security office in person. You can find the office nearest you at ssa.gov/locator or by calling the main number above.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did the 2022 COLA increase affect SSI payments too?

Yes. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries also received the 5.9% COLA increase in January 2022. However, SSI has a federal benefit rate (the maximum monthly payment), which also increased. If you were receiving SSI, your payment went up, but the increase was capped at the new federal benefit rate for your situation.

If I was not on SSDI in January 2022, can I get the 2022 increase retroactively?

No. COLA increases explore only to people receiving benefits in the month the increase takes effect. If you started SSDI in February 2022 or later, your initial payment amount would already reflect the 2022 COLA, but you cannot receive the increase for January 2022 retroactively.

Does the COLA increase affect my Medicare premiums?

It may. Some SSDI beneficiaries pay Medicare Part B premiums, which can be deducted from their SSDI payment. The Part B premium amount changes each year and is sometimes affected by COLA, though not always in a direct way. If your premium increased in 2022, Social Security will have deducted the new amount from your payment.

Will there be another COLA increase in 2023?

Yes. Social Security announces a new COLA every October for the following January. The 2023 COLA was announced in October 2022 and was 8.7%. Each year's increase depends on inflation measured during that year's third quarter compared to the previous year.