If you’re receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), you would have noticed an increase in your monthly check in 2025 compared to that of the previous year. This is due to a provision known as the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), an annual increase that ensures your benefits scales with inflation. The COLA rate for 2025 increased by 2.5%, and this has been automatically reflected from January payments.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) increases benefit amounts every year according to inflation data, through an automatic adjustment called the Cost of Living Adjustment. This is to ensure recipients’ purchasing power isn’t eroded as the prices of essential commodities rise. In 2025, the SSA set the increase at 2.5% using the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). This increase is designed to help millions of Americans keep up with mounting expenses.

The 2.5% COLA boost has the following implications on disability benefits in 2025. Firstly, SSDI qualifiers aren’t required to do anything to receive this higher amount. The SSA adjusts the payment automatically. Inflation data will be reviewed by the SSA each fall and the COLA for the subsequent year announced. This means, for instance, that the COLA rate for 2026 will be released by the SSA in October 2025 and will be applied from January 2026 onwards. Some economists predict a smaller increase depending on inflation trends. Regardless, COLA is crucial in protecting SSDI recipients against rising living costs.

The 2025 benefit amount for recipients have been updated, reflecting in monthly deposits for those who use direct deposit, and in mailed statements for those who receive paper checks. Even a slight COLA increase can go a long way in making a meaningful difference for those living on a fixed income.

For those in California, if you need to contact SDI or need information on how to get through to EDD, you can visit eddcaller.com. They offer a range of resources and information to assist you in navigating your way through these processes.