The 2013 SSDI payment schedule and cost-of-living adjustment

In 2013, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) payments remained frozen at their 2012 levels. There was no cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) that year, which meant the monthly payment amount stayed the same as it had been since 2009. For most people receiving SSDI in 2013, this meant no increase to their monthly check, even though the cost of living continued to rise.

The reason for the freeze was how the COLA formula works. Social Security calculates the annual adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). When inflation measured by that index does not rise enough from one year to the next, there is no COLA. In 2013, the index showed no meaningful increase from 2012, so no adjustment occurred.

This was the fourth consecutive year without a COLA. People who had been receiving SSDI since 2009 had seen their payments stay flat while their actual expenses—rent, food, utilities, medical care—continued to climb. The freeze affected roughly 11 million SSDI beneficiaries that year.

Key Takeaways

  • SSDI payments did not increase in 2013; the monthly amount remained the same as 2012 because there was no cost-of-living adjustment that year.
  • The freeze was the fourth year in a row without a COLA, meaning beneficiaries who started receiving payments in 2009 had seen no increase in five years.
  • The COLA is calculated using the Consumer Price Index and only occurs when that index shows meaningful inflation from one year to the next.
  • Even without a COLA, beneficiaries continued to pay Medicare premiums and other costs that did increase, reducing their actual purchasing power.

Why the COLA froze and how it was calculated

The COLA formula is automatic and does not involve a decision by Congress or the Social Security Administration. It is tied directly to the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), measured from the third quarter of one year to the third quarter of the next. If the index does not rise by at least 0.1 percent, Social Security rounds the COLA to zero.

In 2013, the CPI-W showed a decline from the third quarter of 2012 to the third quarter of 2013. This meant the formula produced a negative number, which Social Security policy does not allow—there is no such thing as a negative COLA. The payment amount cannot go down, so it stayed flat instead.

This happened because the economy was still recovering from the 2008 financial crisis. Energy prices, which make up a significant part of the CPI-W, were volatile. Gasoline prices fell during that period, which pulled down the overall inflation measure even though other costs—especially healthcare and housing—were rising for most households.

What beneficiaries actually paid in 2013

While SSDI payments froze, the costs that came out of those payments did not. Medicare Part B premiums (for doctor visits and outpatient care) increased in 2013. So did Part D premiums (for prescription drugs) for many beneficiaries. Some people also saw increases in their state Medicaid copayments or in the cost of medications and medical equipment.

This meant that even though the payment amount stayed the same, the actual purchasing power of each check went down. A person receiving $1,100 per month in 2012 received the same $1,100 in 2013, but that money bought less food, less heat, and less of everything else except the SSDI payment itself.

For beneficiaries who were already living close to the poverty line—which most SSDI recipients were and are—a year without a COLA created real hardship. Food banks, utility information programs, and local social services reported increased demand from SSDI beneficiaries during this period.

The broader context: Budget cuts and SSDI in 2013

The 2013 COLA freeze happened during a period of significant federal budget pressure. Congress was debating the debt ceiling, sequestration (automatic spending cuts), and the size of the federal budget. Social Security itself was not cut, but the political environment made it harder to discuss the real impact of the COLA freeze on people living on disability payments.

Some policymakers argued that the COLA freeze was necessary to preserve Social Security's long-term solvency. Others pointed out that SSDI beneficiaries were not responsible for inflation or the economy's performance, and that freezing payments during a weak economy hurt the people least able to absorb the loss.

The freeze also raised questions about whether the CPI-W was the right measure for SSDI beneficiaries. The CPI-W is based on the spending patterns of urban wage earners and clerical workers—people with jobs. SSDI beneficiaries spend their money very differently: more on healthcare, less on work-related expenses. Some advocates argued that using a different inflation measure would have shown that beneficiaries' actual costs were rising even when the CPI-W was flat.

When the COLA returned and what changed after 2013

The COLA freeze ended in 2014, when beneficiaries received a 1.5 percent increase. After that, COLAs resumed annually, though they remained modest through the mid-2010s. In 2016, there was another year with no COLA. Then in 2021 and 2022, beneficiaries received much larger adjustments—5.9 percent and 8.7 percent—as inflation rose sharply after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2013 experience showed how vulnerable SSDI beneficiaries are to economic conditions they cannot control. A single year without a COLA might seem small, but for someone living on $1,100 a month, it meant choosing between paying for food and paying for medicine. The freeze also demonstrated that the automatic COLA formula, while it removes politics from the adjustment process, can produce outcomes that feel harsh to the people affected.

How to find your 2013 SSDI payment records

If you received SSDI in 2013 and need to verify your payment amount or history from that year, you can create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov. This online account shows your complete payment history, including the exact amount you received each month in 2013.

You can also call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and ask for a detailed payment history. Have your Social Security number ready. If you are calling on behalf of someone else, you will need to be their representative payee or have their permission to access this information.

If you need this information for a legal case, a housing process, or another official purpose, you can request a Social Security Benefit Verification Letter from your my Social Security account or by calling Social Security directly. This letter shows your payment amounts and can be used as proof of income.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did SSDI payments not go up in 2013 when everything else got more expensive?

The COLA is based on a specific inflation measure (the CPI-W) that showed no increase from the third quarter of 2012 to the third quarter of 2013. When that measure does not rise, there is no COLA. This happened because energy prices fell during that period, even though healthcare and other costs were rising. The formula is automatic and does not account for individual circumstances.

Did everyone on SSDI get the same payment amount in 2013?

No. SSDI payments vary based on your work history and the age at which you became disabled. Some people received $700 per month, others $1,500 or more. But everyone who was receiving SSDI in 2013 saw the same thing: no increase from 2012. The freeze applied to all beneficiaries equally.

If I was on SSDI in 2013, does that year count toward anything now?

Your 2013 SSDI payments are part of your permanent benefit record. If you ever need to prove your income history—for housing, a loan, or other purposes—those payments are documented. The year itself does not affect your current payment amount, but it is part of your official Social Security history.

Can I get back pay for the COLA I missed in 2013?

No. The COLA is set by formula each year, and there is no mechanism to retroactively adjust payments from previous years. Once a year passes without a COLA, that decision is final. The only way payment amounts change is through the annual COLA calculation going forward.

How do I know what my SSDI payment was in 2013 if I do not remember?

Log into your my Social Security account at ssa.gov and view your complete payment history, which goes back to when you started receiving benefits. You can also call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 and ask for a detailed history. Both methods are free and will show you the exact amount for every month in 2013.