SSDI recipients have received several types of extra payments since 2020, but these were temporary and tied to specific events, not ongoing additions to monthly benefits

If you receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), you may have gotten extra money through federal stimulus payments, cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs), or one-time payments from Congress. These were not increases to your regular monthly benefit amount. They were separate payments made at specific times for specific reasons — and most have already ended.

The largest extra payments went to SSDI recipients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Congress authorized three rounds of stimulus checks: $1,200 in March 2020, $600 in December 2020, and $1,400 in March 2021. SSDI recipients who met income thresholds received these automatically; no process was needed. If you received SSDI in those months, you likely got all three payments unless your income was above the limit ($75,000 for single filers in 2021).

Beyond stimulus checks, SSDI recipients also benefited from annual cost-of-living adjustments. In January 2022, beneficiaries received an 5.9% COLA increase — the largest in 40 years. In January 2023, the increase was 8.7%. In January 2024, it was 3.2%. These adjustments raise your monthly benefit amount permanently, not just once. They happen every year when inflation warrants it, though the percentage varies.

Key Takeaways

  • Stimulus checks ($1,200, $600, and $1,400) were one-time payments made in 2020 and 2021 to SSDI recipients who met income limits, and they have ended.
  • Cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) increase your monthly SSDI benefit each January when inflation is high enough, and these are permanent increases, not one-time payments.
  • Some SSDI recipients received a one-time $200 payment in December 2023 as part of a budget agreement, but this was not a regular benefit increase.
  • Your regular monthly SSDI payment has not changed unless you received a COLA adjustment or your work record was updated by Social Security.

The three stimulus payments and who received them

Congress passed three stimulus bills during the pandemic that sent checks to SSDI recipients. The first, in March 2020, sent $1,200 to most adults, including SSDI beneficiaries. The second, in December 2020, sent $600. The third, in March 2021, sent $1,400. All three were based on your tax filing status and income — if you earned more than $75,000 (single) or $150,000 (married filing jointly), you received a reduced amount or nothing.

SSDI recipients did not have to do anything to receive these checks. Social Security automatically identified who was may be able to access and sent the payments. If you were receiving SSDI in those months and your income was below the threshold, the money went to your bank account or was mailed as a check. These payments ended in 2021 and have not been repeated.

How cost-of-living adjustments work and when they happen

A cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is an annual increase to your monthly SSDI benefit that Social Security announces each October for the following January. The amount depends on how much inflation occurred in the previous year. If there is no inflation or prices fall, there is no COLA that year (though this has not happened since 1983).

Recent COLA increases for SSDI recipients were: 5.9% in January 2022, 8.7% in January 2023, 3.2% in January 2024, and 3.2% in January 2025. These are permanent increases to your monthly check. Once a COLA takes effect, your benefit stays at that higher amount for the rest of your life (unless your work record changes or you reach full retirement age and switch to retirement benefits).

You do not have to do anything to receive a COLA. Social Security calculates it automatically and applies it to your account. You will see the new amount in your January benefit payment and in your Social Security statement.

The one-time $200 payment in December 2023

In December 2023, some SSDI recipients received a one-time $200 payment. This was authorized by Congress as part of a budget agreement and was sent to beneficiaries age 65 and older, as well as to disabled and blind beneficiaries under 65 who had been receiving benefits for at least 30 months. The payment was made automatically; you did not have to request it.

This $200 payment was not a benefit increase and did not happen again. It was a one-time measure tied to that specific budget agreement. It did not change your monthly benefit amount going forward.

Why your monthly SSDI payment may have changed

If your regular monthly SSDI check is different from what it was a year ago, one of three things happened: you received a COLA adjustment, your work record was updated, or you reached full retirement age and your benefit type changed.

A COLA adjustment is the most common reason. If you received SSDI in January 2024 or January 2025, your benefit went up by the COLA percentage for that year. This is automatic and permanent.

Your benefit can also change if you earned income during the year and Social Security recalculated your primary insurance amount (the base amount your benefit is calculated from). This happens less often and usually results in a small change. You can see your earnings record in your my Social Security account online.

If you reached full retirement age, your SSDI benefit automatically converted to a retirement benefit at the same amount. This is not an increase — it is a change in the type of benefit you receive, but the monthly payment stays the same.

How to check what payments you have received

You can see a record of all payments Social Security has sent you by logging into your my Social Security account at ssa.gov. Click "Benefit Verification Letter" to read a document showing your monthly benefit amount and any adjustments made in the past year.

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. Wait times are shortest early in the morning on weekdays.

If you believe you did not receive a stimulus payment you were owed, or if you received a payment you think was an error, contact Social Security directly. Do not rely on third-party websites or services to resolve payment issues.

What to expect going forward

Your SSDI benefit will increase each January if there is a COLA adjustment. Social Security will announce the percentage in October of the prior year. You will not receive additional one-time stimulus payments unless Congress passes new legislation — and there is no current plan to do so.

Your monthly benefit may also change if your work record is updated, if you reach full retirement age, or if you become may be able to access for a different type of benefit (such as spousal benefits). Social Security will notify you of any changes before they take effect.

The best way to stay informed is to check your my Social Security account regularly and read any notices Social Security mails to you. Do not assume a change is an error without verifying it first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did SSDI recipients get the stimulus checks automatically or did they have to request them?

All three stimulus checks were sent automatically. Social Security identified who was may be able to access based on your benefit status and income, and the money was deposited to your bank account or mailed as a check. You did not have to do anything to receive them.

Will there be more stimulus payments for SSDI recipients?

There are no current plans for additional stimulus payments. The three checks in 2020 and 2021 were tied to the pandemic emergency. Any future payments would require new legislation from Congress. You should not expect them unless Congress passes a new law.

Is the COLA increase the same for everyone on SSDI?

Yes, the COLA percentage is the same for all SSDI recipients. In January 2025, for example, everyone received a 3.2% increase to their monthly benefit. The dollar amount of the increase varies because it is calculated as a percentage of your current benefit, but the percentage itself is uniform.

Can I get back pay if I missed a stimulus payment?

If you did not receive a stimulus check you were owed, you could claim it on your tax return for that year. The important date to claim the 2020 and 2021 payments has passed. Contact the IRS or a tax professional if you believe you are owed money from those years.

What if my SSDI payment went down instead of up?

SSDI payments do not go down because of a COLA adjustment — they only go up or stay the same. If your payment decreased, it was likely because you earned income that triggered a recalculation, you became ineligible for a dependent benefit, or there was an error. Contact Social Security when ready to find out why.