If you rely upon disability benefits for financial support, the arrival of a new year may generate uncertainty about the Social Security changes 2025 disability programs have in store for you. Several changes introduced for 2025, such as a cost-of-living adjustment, increase benefits while others, such as a higher substantial gainful activity amount, increase the amount you can earn while working without jeopardizing your eligibility.
This blog post explains the SSI and SSDI changes 2025 brings and the effect they may have on you and your life. As always, the disability team at Sackett and Associates, Northern California’s premier disability law firm, stands ready to answer your questions about claims, benefits, and other matters related to disability benefits.
A COLA Increase To Offset Inflation
As a result of a cost-of-living adjustment, Social Security 2025 benefits in all programs increase by 2.5%. The following are the programs and monthly benefits affected by the COLA increase:
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI): The maximum monthly federal benefit rate for individuals increased from $943 for an individual and $1,415 for an eligible couple in 2024 to $967 for an individual and $1,450 for a couple.
- Social Security Disability Insurance SSDI (SSDI): The maximum monthly benefit increased from $3,822 in 2024 to $4,018. It’s important to remember that SSDI benefits are calculated based on average lifetime earnings, so most people eligible for SSDI receive less than the maximum. The average benefit payment in 2025 is $1,580, including the 2.5% COLA.
- Social Security Retirement: The 2.5% COLA for 2025 also applies to retirement benefits paid through the Social Security Administration.
The changes in monthly benefit payments went into effect on January 1, 2025, so recipients of SSDI and Social Security retirement benefits saw an increase in their payments in January. Recipients of SSI benefits got a head start by receiving their first payment with the COLA on December 31, 2024. SSDI and retirement beneficiaries shouldn’t be jealous. SSI benefits are paid on the first day of the month, but January 1, 2025, was a federal holiday, so the payments are processed on the previous business day.
What Does An Increase In Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) Mean?
For a person to be disabled according to the definition used by the Social Security Administration, they must be unable to do substantial gainful activity because of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment expected to last for at least one year or expected to result in death. SGA is a measure used by the SSA to determine if someone who is working meets the requirements of the definition.
SGA is the maximum income a person can earn monthly and be disabled. Earning more than the SGA maximum can disqualify someone from disability benefits.
The SGA amount was $1,550 in 2024 for a person with a disability other than blindness. It was $2,590 for a person who was statutorily blind. SGA increased in 2025 to $2,700 for someone who is blind and $1,620 for non-blind individuals, so you can earn more in 2025 without it affecting your eligibility your disability benefits through SSDI or SSI.
Change To Start Of A Trial Work Period
If you receive SSDI benefits, you can attempt a return to work during a trial work period without risking your eligibility. You have nine months to test your ability to work during a trial work period (TWP), earning as much as you can from working while continuing to receive your monthly SSDI benefits.
The nine months of a TWP need not be consecutive, but they must be completed during a 60-month period. A month counts as one of the nine months of the TWP based on your earnings from working. If you earned more than $1,110 during a month in 2024, it counted toward the TWP. The SSDI earning limit 2025 per month for TWP is $1,160, so you can earn more from working without the month counting as part of the TWP.
Social Security 2025 Changes For Disability And Students Receiving SSI
Blind or disabled children under age 22 seeking or receiving SSI benefits who participate in a course of vocational or technical training or regularly attend a school, college, or university can exclude a portion of their monthly earnings without it affecting their SSI benefits. The monthly maximum earnings subject to exclusion in 2025 is $2,350 up to an annual limit of $9,460. The exclusions represent an increase from the 2024 monthly maximum of $2,290 with a yearly limit of $9,230.
Get Help With Your Disability Benefits
To learn more about 2025 Social Security disability updates and how they affect your benefits, speak with a disability lawyer at Sackett and Associates. Find out why thousands of people in Northern California and throughout the country have entrusted their disability claims to Sackett Law for over 45 years by contacting us today for a free consultation.
Leave A Comment