A slight raise in benefits payments is coming in 2026 for Americans who rely on SSI and SSDI. Every October, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announces the next year’s cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), which is tied to changes in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).
For 2026, the COLA will increase by 2.8 percent, a slight increase from the 2.5 percent COLA for 2025.
2026 SSI Payout
For an individual receiving SSI benefits, the maximum monthly payment will increase by $27 — from $967 to $994. For couples, the maximum monthly payment will increase from $1,450 to $1,491, a difference of $41. SSI recipients will see the increased amount starting with payments received on December 31, 2025. About 7.5 million people currently receive SSI benefits.
2026 SSDI Payout
Individuals who receive SSDI benefits will also see a 2.8 percent increase. Since each SSDI recipient’s situation is unique, the specific amount varies. However, the estimated average monthly amount is $1,630, a $44 increase from $1,586 in 2025. The amount of SSDI benefits is based on your lifetime average earnings before acquiring your disability.
A COLA increase is positive news, but for families managing benefits-sensitive financial plans, it’s also a prompt to review how the change interacts with SSI resource limits and any trust or ABLE account strategies in place. Changes in benefit amounts can affect planning calculations, particularly for families tracking the $100,000 ABLE threshold or SSI resource limits.