The main changes affecting SSDI payments and work rules in 2025
Social Security made several changes to how SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) works starting in 2025. The most visible change is the cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, which affects the dollar amount you receive each month. In 2025, the COLA is 2.5 percent, meaning most people on SSDI will see their monthly payment increase by that percentage.
Beyond the payment increase, there are changes to the rules about how much you can earn while receiving SSDI. The substantial gainful activity threshold — the income level that can affect your benefits — has risen to $1,550 per month for non-blind beneficiaries and $2,590 per month for blind beneficiaries. This means you can earn more money before Social Security reviews whether your disability still qualifies you for benefits.
There are also updates to the trial work period and extended may be able to access rules that affect people testing their ability to work. These changes are designed to give people on SSDI more room to try working without when ready losing their benefits.
Key Takeaways
- Your monthly SSDI payment will increase by 2.5 percent in 2025 due to the annual cost-of-living adjustment.
- You can now earn up to $1,550 per month (or $2,590 if you are blind) before Social Security counts it as substantial gainful activity that might affect your benefits.
- The trial work period and extended may be able to access rules have been updated to give you more flexibility to test your ability to work.
- These changes take effect in January 2025, and Social Security will notify beneficiaries of payment changes automatically.
- If you are working or planning to work, you should understand the new earnings thresholds to avoid unexpected benefit reductions.
How the 2.5 percent payment increase works
The COLA is calculated each year based on inflation. Social Security looks at the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from the third quarter of the previous year compared to the same quarter this year. When prices go up, the COLA goes up. When inflation is lower, the COLA is lower.
For 2025, the 2.5 percent increase means that if you received $1,200 per month in 2024, you will receive $1,230 per month starting in January 2025. Social Security calculates the exact amount for each person based on their individual benefit, so your increase may be slightly different depending on rounding.
You do not need to do anything to receive this increase. Social Security sends out notices in December showing the new payment amount, and the higher payment begins in January. If you have your payment deposited directly to your bank account, the new amount will appear in your first deposit of the year.
New earnings limits and what they mean for people who work
The substantial gainful activity threshold is the income level Social Security uses to decide whether you are still disabled. If you earn more than this amount in a month, Social Security may determine that you are able to work and review your case. The 2025 threshold of $1,550 per month (for non-blind beneficiaries) is an increase from $1,470 in 2024.
This does not mean your benefits automatically stop if you earn $1,551. It means Social Security will look more closely at your work and your medical condition. The agency wants to understand whether your earnings show that your disability has improved enough that you no longer meet the definition of disabled.
If you are blind, the threshold is higher: $2,590 per month in 2025. Blind beneficiaries have a higher limit because Social Security recognizes that blindness creates specific barriers to work, and the agency wants to encourage blind people to try working without the fear of when ready benefit loss.
If you earn less than the threshold, you can work without triggering a medical review. Many people on SSDI work part-time or in jobs that pay below this amount, and their benefits continue without interruption.
Trial work period and extended may be able to access updates
The trial work period is a nine-month window when you can test your ability to work and keep your full SSDI payment, no matter how much you earn. This period is designed to let you see whether you can sustain work without losing your benefits when ready.
After the trial work period ends, you enter the extended may be able to access period. During this time, you can continue to receive SSDI for any month your earnings fall below the substantial gainful activity threshold. The 2025 updates to these rules give you more months to test your work capacity and more flexibility in how you use them.
Specifically, the extended may be able to access period now lasts 36 months instead of the previous timeframe, giving you a longer window to return to work gradually or to test different jobs. You also have more control over when you use your trial work months — you do not have to use them consecutively, and you can spread them out over a longer period if you need to.
How these changes affect your benefits if you are currently working
If you are already working and receiving SSDI, the higher earnings threshold gives you more room to increase your hours or take on additional work without triggering a benefit review. You can now earn up to $1,550 per month before Social Security looks closely at whether your disability status has changed.
If your current job pays you less than $1,550 per month, nothing changes for you in 2025 except that your monthly payment increases by 2.5 percent. You continue to receive your full benefit and your wages do not affect it.
If you earn more than $1,550 per month, you should contact Social Security to report your earnings. The agency will not automatically cut your benefits, but they will review your case to determine whether you are still disabled. Many people in this situation continue to receive some or all of their SSDI because earning money does not automatically mean your disability has improved.
What you need to do in 2025
Most people on SSDI do not need to take any action. Social Security will automatically explore the 2.5 percent increase to your payment and notify you by mail in December 2024 or early January 2025.
If you are working or planning to work in 2025, you should understand the new $1,550 earnings threshold. You can report your earnings to Social Security through your my Social Security account online, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or in person at your local Social Security office. Reporting your earnings does not mean your benefits will stop — it means Social Security has the information they need to manage your case correctly.
If you receive SSI (Supplemental Security Income) in addition to SSDI, some of these changes may affect your SSI payment differently. SSI has its own earnings rules and limits, so you may want to contact Social Security to understand how the 2025 changes explore to your specific situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my SSDI payment increase automatically in 2025?
Yes. Social Security applies the 2.5 percent cost-of-living adjustment to all SSDI payments automatically starting in January 2025. You will receive a notice in the mail showing your new payment amount, and you do not need to do anything to receive the increase.
Can I earn more than $1,550 per month without losing my benefits?
You can earn more than $1,550 per month, but Social Security will review your case to determine whether you are still disabled. Earning above the threshold does not automatically end your benefits — it triggers a review. Many people continue to receive SSDI while earning more than this amount.
What is the trial work period and how does it work in 2025?
The trial work period is a nine-month window when you can earn any amount and keep your full SSDI payment. You do not have to use these nine months consecutively, and the 2025 updates give you more flexibility in how you spread them out. After the trial work period, you enter extended may be able to access, which now lasts 36 months.
Do I need to report my earnings to Social Security?
Yes, you should report your earnings to Social Security, especially if you earn more than $1,550 per month. You can report through your my Social Security account online, by calling 1-800-772-1213, or at your local office. Reporting does not automatically reduce your benefits — it gives Social Security the information they need to manage your case.
How do I know if the 2025 changes affect my specific situation?
The payment increase affects everyone on SSDI. The earnings threshold changes affect people who work or are planning to work. If you are unsure how these changes explore to you, contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or visit your local office. You can also log into your my Social Security account to see your current payment amount and earnings record.