Social Security and SSI Disability Increase for 2026

The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced a 2.8% cost-of-living increase (COLA) increase in Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for 2026, up slightly from the year before, due to higher inflation.

Increased payments to Social Security recipients begin in January 2026, while increased payments to SSI recipients will be included in their checks or deposits on December 31, 2025. Other numbers regarding eligibility for disability and average benefits have also changed for 2026.

How Much Will SSDI Checks Be in 2026?

While the exact Social Security retirement and disability benefit amount that a person can receive depends on their lifetime earnings, here are the average SSDI payment amounts for 2026:

• average retirement benefit: $2,071
• average disability benefit: $1,630
• average widow's or widower's benefit: $1,919.

The maximum Social Security retirement benefit that can be collected at full retirement age, and the maximum SSDI benefit for 2026, is $4,152 per month, though few people (only very high-earners) can collect this amount.

How Are Your SSDI Payments Calculated?

SSDI payments depend on your average earnings over the 35 years during which you had the highest income, if you worked for 35 years.

Social Security will average your earnings over these 35 years to come up with your "average indexed monthly earnings" (AIME). The agency then takes certain percentages of your AIME (called bend points) to come up with your primary insurance amount.

In 2026, the bend points are:

• 90% of the first $1,286 of your AIME
• plus 32% of your AIME from $1,286 to $7,749
• plus 15% of your AIME over $7,749.

For details on the calculations, see our article on how much you'll get in SSDI.

How Much Is SSI in 2026?

The new SSI disability amount in 2026 is $994 per month for an individual and $1,491 per month for a couple (up from $967 and $1,450 in 2025).

The SSI payment amounts are higher in states that pay a supplementary SSI payment, but there is no maximum SSI payment in these states. In a state that doesn't pay state supplemental payments, the SSI maximum amount is $994 (the same as the federal base rate).

Most SSI recipients, however, receive less than the federal base rate because of income or free room and board.

Learn more about how much you can get in SSI.

How Much Can Social Security Attorneys Charge in 2026?

Social Security attorneys (which the SSA calls "representatives") can charge a fee of 25% of the back pay awarded to a client, up to a maximum amount. In 2026, the maximum fee is $9,200, but disability applicants typically pay less than half that amount.

Does Working Affect Eligibility for Disability?

An applicant for disability benefits through the Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) or SSI programs must be making less than $1,690 per month (up from $1,620 per month in 2025) to qualify for benefits. Blind applicants can make up to $2,830 per month (up from $2,700 per month in 2025). Anyone working above those limits is considered to be doing "substantial gainful activity" (SGA).

How Much Can You Make on SSDI in 2026?

People who are currently receiving SSDI and who attempt to return to work can make more than that during a trial work program. SSDI recipients can get up to nine months of trial work. A month counts as a trial work period month when an SSDI recipient makes more than $1,210 per month (up from $1,160 per month in 2025).

After the trial work period is over, you won't get an SSDI benefit in any month you make over $1,690.

Learn more about trial work and how much you can earn on SSDI.

How Much Can You Make on SSI in 2026?

For people who are receiving SSI, the new federal income limit for SSI is $994 per month, but complicated rules govern what income is countable and what income is not. Over half of the income made by an SSI recipient isn't counted toward the limit, so you can actually receive SSI until you earn about $2,070 per month in 2026 (if you have no other income such as gifts or pensions).

But any income you receive between $0 and $2,073 will reduce your monthly benefit. (For instance, if you earn $1,225 a month and have no other income, the reduction for countable income will be $570, and you'll receive only $424 in your SSI check.) To learn how the SSA calculates the reduced benefit, see our article on countable income for SSI. In some states that make extra payments to SSI recipients, the income limit for SSI recipients may be higher.

The income exclusion amount for students receiving SSI is now $2,410 per month (up to an annual limit of $9,730).

Learn more about SSI and working.

How Much in Taxes Does Social Security Withhold?

The maximum amount of earnings that's subject to the Social Security tax is $184,500 in 2026. There's no limit to the amount of income subject to the Medicare tax.

How Does Working During Early Retirement Affect Benefits?

If you collect early retirement benefits but continue to work, Social Security will reduce your benefits if you make over $24,480 per year ($2,040 per month) in 2026. But during the year you reach full retirement age, you can make up to $5,430 per month without having retirement benefits taken away. (After you reach full retirement age on your birthday, your benefits aren't reduced at all, regardless of the amount of work or earnings.)

Any early retirement benefits that Social Security deducted while you were working are added back to your retirement check over the 10 to 15 years after you reach full retirement age.

Learn more about the penalty for working while collecting retirement benefits.