Social Security beneficiaries have a reason to look forward to 2025, as the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced a 2.5% Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) increase to address inflation and help recipients keep up with rising costs.
This adjustment affects a wide range of beneficiaries, including retirees, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) recipients, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries. As a result, many SSDI recipients can expect their average payments to increase, with some receiving around $1,580 per month in 2025.
So, who exactly qualifies for these increased benefits? And what specific payments will other groups, like spouses and children of SSDI recipients, receive after this adjustment? Here’s an overview of what to expect from Social Security payments in 2025.
COLA and SSDI Payments
COLA is a regular adjustment SSA makes to keep Social Security payments in line with inflation. For 2025, this 2.5% increase will impact payments across all SSA programs.
SSDI beneficiaries, who receive benefits due to a significant work-limiting disability, can expect an increase in their payments.
As of August 2024, the average SSDI monthly payment was approximately $1,539, with a modest projected rise to $1,542 by December 2024. Following the COLA adjustment, SSDI recipients’ payments will reach an average of $1,580 beginning in January 2025.
This increase is based on average data and varies depending on each individual’s work history and earnings. SSDI payments hinge on a beneficiary’s average indexed monthly earnings (AIME) over their career, which means some recipients could receive less or much more than the average $1,580.
Payments for Families of SSDI Recipients
SSDI benefits can also extend to eligible family members of disabled workers, such as spouses or children. Here’s what these recipients might expect after the COLA increase.
For a family comprising a worker with a disability, a spouse, and one or more children, the average monthly payment in 2024 was $2,757. With the 2.5% COLA adjustment, this amount is expected to increase to around $2,826 in 2025.
This adjustment helps ensure that entire families of SSDI recipients can also keep up with the rising cost of living.
Payments for Spouses of SSDI Recipients
Spouses of SSDI recipients who qualify for benefits can also expect a payment boost. As of August 2024, the average monthly payment for spouses of disabled workers was approximately $421. With the 2.5% COLA increase, this figure will rise to about $431 in 2025.
Payments for Children of SSDI Recipients
Children of SSDI recipients may qualify for a monthly benefit as well, which varies depending on factors like the worker’s benefit amount and family maximum rules. For example, the average payment for children of disabled workers in August 2024 was $492.
With the 2025 COLA adjustment, children’s payments will increase by 2.5%, resulting in an average payment of around $504.
| Beneficiary Type | 2024 Payment (August) | Projected 2025 Payment |
|---|---|---|
| SSDI Recipient | $1,539 | $1,580 |
| Worker, Spouse & Children | $2,757 | $2,826 |
| Spouse | $421 | $431 |
| Child | $492 | $504 |
Why COLA Varies Among Beneficiaries
COLA provides a standard increase for all beneficiaries but does not result in the same dollar increase for everyone. The variance stems from differences in each recipient’s work record and earnings, which are the basis of their monthly benefit amount.
For SSDI recipients, benefits are closely tied to lifetime earnings. For example, a person with a longer work history and higher income will generally receive a larger monthly benefit.
For SSI beneficiaries—individuals with limited income and resources—COLA will also apply, though their base payment typically falls below that of SSDI recipients.
Overall, while COLA increases offer important boosts to Social Security payments, each recipient’s final amount will vary. Beneficiaries are encouraged to check their specific estimated benefit statements to understand what they will receive in 2025.
In conclusion, the 2025 COLA increase brings some relief for Social Security recipients amid rising living costs. SSDI beneficiaries, as well as eligible spouses and children, can look forward to higher average monthly payments, with many recipients seeing an average of $1,580.
While actual payments vary, this COLA adjustment highlights SSA’s commitment to maintaining the purchasing power of benefits for disabled workers and their families.
