The biggest changes affecting SSDI this year
Social Security made several changes to SSDI in 2025 that affect how much money you receive, what you can earn while on the program, and how the agency processes your case. The most visible change is the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), which increases monthly benefit amounts each January. In 2025, COLA is 2.5 percent — meaning someone receiving $1,200 per month in 2024 receives about $1,230 in 2025.
The earnings limit — the amount you can work and still receive SSDI — also increased. In 2025, you can earn up to $1,550 per month without affecting your benefits during the trial work period. After that nine-month period, you enter the extended may be able to access period, where you can earn up to $3,822 per month for an additional 36 months before benefits stop. These limits change yearly based on national wage averages.
Beyond the numbers, Social Security also changed how it handles work incentives and medical reviews. The agency expanded its use of remote medical exams and updated the rules for how it evaluates certain conditions. If you are currently receiving SSDI or planning to return to work, these changes directly affect your next steps.
Key Takeaways
- Your monthly SSDI payment increased by 2.5 percent in January 2025 as part of the annual cost-of-living adjustment.
- The amount you can earn while on SSDI rose to $1,550 per month during the trial work period and $3,822 per month during extended may be able to access.
- Social Security expanded remote medical exams, which may change how and where your condition is evaluated during a medical review.
- Work incentive programs like Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) and Plans to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) remain available but have updated documentation requirements.
How the cost-of-living adjustment affects your payment
The 2.5 percent COLA increase applies to all SSDI recipients automatically — you do not need to do anything to receive it. Social Security calculates COLA each October based on inflation data from the previous summer months. The adjustment takes effect in January and appears in your first payment of the year.
If you also receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you receive a separate COLA adjustment for that program. The SSI amount may differ from the SSDI amount because SSI has a different calculation method. Your Social Security statement or your online my Social Security account will show your new monthly amount before January arrives.
The COLA does not affect your work incentives or your ability to work. You can still use the trial work period and extended may be able to access period under the same rules as before — the earnings limits are what changed, not the structure of the work incentive itself.
New earnings limits and how they work
Starting in 2025, the trial work period allows you to earn $1,550 per month without any reduction to your SSDI check. This is the nine-month window when Social Security does not count your earnings against your benefits at all. You can use these nine months all at once or spread them across 60 months — the choice is yours, and Social Security tracks which months you use.
After the trial work period ends, you enter the extended may be able to access period. During these 36 months, you can earn up to $3,822 per month. If you earn more than that in any month, Social Security stops your benefits for that month only — your benefits resume the next month if your earnings drop back below the limit. This gives you a longer runway to test whether you can sustain work before benefits end permanently.
Once the extended may be able to access period ends, you can still work, but you no longer receive SSDI payments. However, you may be able to restart benefits under expedited reinstatement rules if you stop working or your earnings drop below the limit within five years. Keep records of your earnings and report them to Social Security each month — underreporting or failing to report can result in overpayments you will have to repay.
Changes to medical reviews and how Social Security evaluates your condition
Social Security expanded its use of remote medical exams in 2025, meaning some consultative exams (CEs) now happen by video rather than in person. The agency contracts with doctors and psychologists who conduct these exams on behalf of Social Security when the agency needs current medical evidence about your condition. A remote exam follows the same format as an in-person one — the doctor asks questions, may request you perform certain movements or tasks, and writes a report for Social Security's file.
If Social Security schedules you for a remote exam, you will receive a notice with the date, time, and instructions for joining the video call. You will need a device with a camera and microphone and a stable internet connection. If you cannot participate remotely, you can request an in-person exam instead — tell Social Security in writing before the scheduled date.
Social Security also updated how it evaluates certain conditions, particularly mental health and pain-related disorders. The agency now requires more specific documentation of how your condition affects your ability to work — general statements that you "cannot work" are no longer sufficient. Your medical records should describe what you can and cannot do on a typical day, how your condition changes, and what treatment you are receiving.
Work incentive programs and updated documentation rules
Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) and Plans to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) remain available in 2025, but Social Security tightened the documentation it requires. IRWE allows you to deduct certain work-related costs from your earnings before Social Security calculates whether you have exceeded the earnings limit. For example, if you need a personal assistant to help you get to work, that cost can be deducted as an IRWE.
To claim IRWE in 2025, you now need to provide receipts or invoices for the expenses, not just a statement that you incurred them. If you use a service like a job coach or transportation information, keep records showing what you paid and what the service was for. Social Security will ask for these documents during a work incentive review.
PASS allows you to set aside income and resources to reach a work goal — for example, saving money for vocational training or starting a business. The rules for PASS did not change substantially in 2025, but Social Security requires more detailed plans that show specific milestones and timelines. If you have a PASS in place, review it with your work incentive planning and information (WIPA) project or your benefits planning information and outreach (BPAO) representative to make sure it meets current standards.
What did not change in SSDI for 2025
The definition of disability itself did not change. You still must have a condition that is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death, and the condition must prevent you from doing substantial gainful activity. Social Security did not lower or raise the threshold for what counts as a disability.
The medical conditions listed in the Blue Book — Social Security's official list of disabling conditions — remain the same. However, Social Security continues to update how it evaluates certain conditions within the Blue Book, so if you are in the middle of an appeal or a medical review, ask your representative whether any updates affect your case.
Your right to work and use work incentives did not change. The structure of the trial work period and extended may be able to access period is the same — only the dollar amounts changed. If you were already using these programs, you can continue under the same rules.
How to find out what changed for your specific situation
Your Social Security statement, available through my Social Security online, shows your current monthly benefit amount and your earnings record. Log in to see whether your 2025 payment reflects the COLA increase. If you do not see an increase, contact Social Security to ask why.
If you are working or planning to work, call Social Security's work incentives planning and information line at 1-866-YOUR-NEW (1-866-968-7639) to speak with a representative who specializes in work incentives. They can explain how the new earnings limits explore to your situation and help you understand whether IRWE or PASS might help you.
If you received a notice about a medical review or a change to your case, read it carefully and note the important date for responding. If you do not understand what Social Security is asking for, call the number on the notice or visit your local Social Security office in person.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the 2.5 percent increase happen automatically or do I have to do something?
The increase happens automatically. Social Security applies the COLA to all SSDI payments in January without requiring you to take any action. You will see the new amount in your first payment of the year.
If I earn more than $1,550 in one month, do I lose all my benefits?
During the trial work period, no — you can earn any amount and still receive your full SSDI check. After the trial work period ends and you enter extended may be able to access, earning more than $3,822 in a month stops your benefits for that month only. Your benefits resume the next month if your earnings drop below the limit.
What happens if I cannot do a remote medical exam?
You can request an in-person exam instead. Contact Social Security in writing before your scheduled remote exam date and explain why you cannot participate remotely. Social Security will work with you to find an alternative.
Do I have to report my earnings to Social Security every month?
Yes. If you are working while on SSDI, you must report your monthly earnings to Social Security. Failure to report can result in overpayments that you will have to repay. Social Security provides a form for reporting earnings, or you can report online through my Social Security.
Can I still use PASS or IRWE in 2025?
Yes, both programs are still available. IRWE requires receipts or invoices for work-related expenses, and PASS requires a detailed plan with specific milestones. Contact your local WIPA project or BPAO representative to set up either program.