The 2026 COLA will increase disability payments by a set percentage

The Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2026 has been announced, and it will raise Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) payments and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments by a specific amount. The Social Security Administration calculates this percentage each year based on inflation data from the third quarter — July, August, and September — of the previous year.

For 2026, the COLA increase is 2.5 percent. This means if you received a disability payment in December 2025, your January 2026 payment will be 2.5 percent higher. The increase applies automatically; you do not need to contact Social Security or take any action to receive it.

The COLA affects both SSDI (which is based on your work history) and SSI (which is a needs-based program for people with disabilities, blind individuals, and elderly people with low income). It also affects the earnings limit that determines whether you can work while receiving benefits.

Key Takeaways

  • The 2026 COLA raises disability payments by 2.5 percent, effective with your January 2026 payment.
  • The increase happens automatically without any action on your part.
  • Both SSDI and SSI payments increase by the same percentage.
  • The earnings limit for people who work while on disability also increases by 2.5 percent.
  • You can check your projected 2026 payment amount by logging into your my Social Security account online.

How the COLA is calculated each year

Social Security calculates the COLA by comparing the average Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from July, August, and September of one year to the same three months of the previous year. If inflation went up during that period, the COLA goes up. If inflation stayed flat or went down, the COLA is zero or negative (though by law it cannot go below zero).

The announcement happens in October of the year before the increase takes effect. So the 2026 COLA was announced in October 2025. This gives Social Security time to reprogram its systems and notify beneficiaries before January payments go out.

COLA amounts vary from year to year. In recent years, the COLA has ranged from zero (in 2016 and 2017) to 8.7 percent (in 2023). The 2.5 percent increase for 2026 reflects the inflation rate during the measurement period.

What changes for SSDI beneficiaries in 2026

If you receive SSDI, your monthly payment amount will increase by 2.5 percent. The exact dollar amount depends on your individual benefit calculation, which is based on your earnings record and the age at which you began receiving benefits.

The earnings limit — the amount you can earn from work before your benefits are reduced — also increases. In 2025, this limit was $23,400 per year. For 2026, it will be higher by 2.5 percent. This limit applies only if you are under full retirement age; once you reach full retirement age, you can earn any amount without losing benefits.

If you are working and receiving SSDI, Social Security will count your 2026 earnings against the new 2026 limit, not the 2025 limit. You do not need to report the COLA increase itself; you only report your actual work earnings.

What changes for SSI beneficiaries in 2026

SSI is a needs-based program, which means your payment depends partly on how much income and resources you have. The federal benefit rate — the base amount SSI pays — increases by 2.5 percent in 2026. However, your actual payment may not increase by exactly 2.5 percent if your income or resources have changed during the year.

The resource limit (the amount of savings and assets you can have and still receive SSI) also increases by 2.5 percent. In 2025, the limit for an individual was $2,000. For 2026, it will be higher. Some states add their own money to the federal SSI payment, and those state supplements may increase by different amounts or on different schedules.

If you receive both SSDI and SSI (called "concurrent" benefits), you will see the COLA reflected in both payments, though the way it affects your SSI amount depends on your other income.

How to find out your 2026 payment amount

You can see your projected 2026 payment by creating or logging into your my Social Security account at ssa.gov. This online account shows your current payment amount and lets you view your earnings record. The site will update with 2026 payment amounts after the COLA takes effect in January.

If you do not have an online account, you can call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to ask about your 2026 payment. Have your Social Security number ready. Wait times are usually shorter early in the morning or on weekdays.

You can also visit your local Social Security office in person, though appointments are recommended. You can schedule an appointment online through your my Social Security account or by calling the number above.

When the increase appears in your bank account

The 2026 COLA takes effect with your January 2026 payment. Social Security sends most payments on the second, third, or fourth Wednesday of each month, depending on your birth date. Check your Social Security statement or your bank records to see which day you normally receive your payment.

If you have direct deposit set up (which most beneficiaries do), the increased amount will appear in your bank account on your regular payment day in January. If you receive a paper check, it will arrive by mail around the same time.

Some people who were born on the 1st through the 10th of the month receive payments on the second Wednesday. Those born on the 11th through the 20th receive payments on the third Wednesday. Those born on the 21st through the 31st receive payments on the fourth Wednesday. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments go out on the first of the month.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to do anything to get the COLA increase?

No. The increase happens automatically. Social Security will add the 2.5 percent to your payment with no action needed on your part. You will see the higher amount in your January 2026 payment.

Will the COLA increase affect my Medicare premiums?

The COLA can affect your Medicare Part B and Part D premiums, but there is a rule called "hold harmless" that protects most people. If your Medicare premium would increase more than your COLA increase, the government covers the difference so your net payment does not go down. Some higher-income beneficiaries do not receive this protection.

What if I am working and receiving disability benefits?

Your payment will still increase by 2.5 percent. The earnings limit (the amount you can earn before benefits are reduced) also increases by 2.5 percent. You report your actual work earnings to Social Security; the COLA itself does not change your work reporting requirements.

Does the COLA explore to family members receiving benefits on my record?

Yes. If your spouse, children, or other family members receive benefits based on your Social Security record, their payments also increase by 2.5 percent in January 2026.

Can the COLA ever be negative?

By law, the COLA cannot go below zero. If inflation is flat or negative, the COLA is zero and payments stay the same. This has happened in 2016, 2017, and 2010. However, once a COLA increase takes effect, it does not decrease in future years.