How Social Security Disability Is Changing in 2025

If you receive disability benefits from the Social Security Administration, those benefits are probably an important source of financial support during a time when you’re unable to work and earn money as you normally would. If that is the case, you probably want to do everything you can to protect those benefits. Part of that is understanding how your benefits could change from year to year and what steps you need to take to anticipate and prepare for those changes.

Cost-of-Living Adjustment

As anyone who pays bills is already well aware, living costs usually increase yearly. The Social Security Administration recognizes that those who receive disability benefits need to be able to keep up with those increases. For this reason, each year, the Social Security Administration makes a cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA for short.

In deciding what the COLA will be each year, the Social Security Administration considers various economic factors. In 2025, the COLA is 2.5% for both SSDI and SSI recipients. From a practical standpoint, this means that someone who typically received $1,000 a month in benefits in 2024 would see that amount increased to $1,025 in 2025. The exception to this rule is if the beneficiary was already receiving the maximum benefit amount each month. The maximum monthly SSDI an individual can receive in 2025 is $4,018. The maximum monthly amount of SSI in 2025 is $967 for an eligible individual and $1,450 per couple.

Typically, the Social Security Administration sends notifications regarding cost-of-living adjustments and new benefit amounts in December preceding the year that the benefit amount will change. If by chance you do not receive this notification in the mail, you can also easily access your COLA notice online through a mySocialSecurity account.

Increase In The Substantial Gainful Activity Limit

Sometimes, if your disability improves, you may consider a return to work. The Social Security Administration typically sets what is known as a Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limit, which is the maximum amount an individual can earn while still receiving SSDI benefits. This limit changes annually based on various economic factors, and it increased in 2025.

In 2024, the SGA limit for recipients who were not blind was $1,470 per month. In 2025, the limit was increased to $1,620 per month. For blind individuals, the limit was $2,460 per month in 2024. In 2025, the limit was increased to $2,700.

In addition to increasing the SGA limit, the Social Security Administration also increased the amount of income a beneficiary can earn while attempting a Trial Work Period, or TWP for short. This is a nine-month period during which a beneficiary can try out a return to work without losing their disability benefits. In 2024, the monthly income limit for a trial work period month was $1,050. In 2025, that limit was increased to $1,160.

What About the Social Security Disability Trust Fund?

One question that recipients often ask, in light of the shifting political climate and sometimes volatile economic conditions, is – will my disability benefits run out? It’s an understandable – and worrisome – question to have to ask.

The good news is that in 2025, the Social Security Trust Fund, which is the primary source for paying SSDI benefits, should remain solvent, and benefits should continue without interruption. Recent projections do indicate that the Social Security Trust Fund could be exhausted by 2035, however, unless changes are made to the system.

For 2025, this generally means that no significant changes will occur, although it is possible that the government might take preemptive steps toward addressing this issue. Such steps might include attempting to supplement and extend the life of the fund by making adjustments to payroll taxes or other steps to attempt to create long-term solvency. At this time, however, no specific decisions have been made that will directly affect disability recipients in 2025.

Disability Experts – Here For You

At Disability Experts, we know that change can be good – but sometimes, it can also feel overwhelming. This can especially be true when there might be changes to the disability benefits you depend on. We know that those benefits are important to you, and we’re here to help you protect them. If you feel worried about how your entitlement to benefits might change over the years, or if you find yourself at any other point in the process where you need help, we’re here for you. We know and understand the law, and we’ll always pursue the best legal strategies on your behalf. If you’re ready to get started, we’re here for you. Give us a call today. We look forward to speaking with you soon.