In a country moving forward after years of economic uncertainty, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) remains one of the most important programs that transcends governments and political positions, as it represents the dividing line between disabled workers and the reality of staying afloat financially or risking bankruptcy.
With an average monthly benefit of $1,580 in September 2025, this program offers a respite to those facing disabilities that prevent them from working. Better yet, the Senior Citizens League (TSCL) projects a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) of 2.7% for 2026, a sign that the system is trying to keep pace with inflation.
How to get SSDI benefits for disabled workers
The SSDI is funded through payroll taxes under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA). Both employees and employers each contribute an equal tax rate of 6.2% on the employee’s earnings, up to an annual income limit set by law. Self-employed individuals pay the combined rate of 12.4%.
These contributions build the work credits needed to be insured and potentially qualify for benefits if a disability prevents substantial work. In 2025, after a 2.5% COLA was implemented in January, the average benefit for disabled workers stands at $1,580 per month, an increase of $39 over 2024.
This figure, which supports 8.2 million beneficiaries, covers basic needs in mid-sized cities: about $800 for rent, $300 for food, $200 for utilities, with a margin for medical or unforeseen expenses. However, for the 40% of beneficiaries with dependents, this amount quickly disappears, especially in urban areas where the cost of living rises at 5.2% annually, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
The maximum SSDI before the upcoming COLA
The SSDI cap, reserved for those who have contributed the maximum amount for 35 years, reaches $4,018 per month in 2025. This maximum benefit, adjusted by the Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME) and the Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), benefits high-income professionals—such as engineers or executives—who face severe disabilities.
Although it seems substantial, in cities like New York or San Francisco, where a modest apartment can cost $2,000, this amount hardly guarantees a comfortable life.
Furthermore, SSDI rules are strict: the substantial gainful activity (SGA) in 2025 is $1,620 per month for non-blind individuals and $2,700 for blind individuals. Exceeding this limit risks losing the benefit, a delicate balance for those trying to supplement their income.
How much more money will SSDI deliver with the COLA increase?
Official Social Security Administration (SSA) data shows that SSDI is a lifeline for a diverse population: 62% of new beneficiaries in 2025 are under 55, with disabilities ranging from mental disorders to chronic work injuries.
Inflation, which the BLS says stabilized at 2.9% this year, has eroded purchasing power, especially for medications (up 8%) and housing. The 2025 COLA helped, but didn’t close the gap. A Georgetown University study notes that the average benefit is equal to poverty income for a single person, a reminder that SSDI, designed in the 1950s, struggles to adapt to the modern economy.
Projected SSDI increases coming soon
This is where TSCL’s projection for the 2026 COLA comes in, estimated at 2.7% based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners (CPI-W) from July to September 2025. This adjustment, which will be confirmed in October, would raise the average benefit to $1,623 per month, an increase of $43.
For the maximum benefit, the jump would be $108, reaching $4,126. Although modest, this increase is a breath of fresh air in a context of projected inflation between 2.5% and 3% for 2026, according to the International Monetary Fund.
Mary Johnson, director of TSCL, highlights in her report “COLA Watch” that this 2.7% “is a positive step, but insufficient for vulnerable sectors facing increases of up to 7% in medical costs.”
October SSDI payments: confirmed dates
Here’s what you need to know about the SSDI calendar for October 2025. If you were born in the first 10 days of the month, your payment should arrive on the second Wednesday (October 8). If you were born in the middle 10 days of the month, your payment should arrive on the third Wednesday (October 15).
If you were born after the middle 10 days of the month, your payment should arrive on the fourth Wednesday (October 22).
If you started to get SSDI benefits before May 1997, or if you get SSDI as well as SSI, your benefits are likely to come on the first of the month. That date is the first day of the month, and it falls on a Wednesday (October 1). The money is sent directly to the bank account you chose for deposit. If there are any changes, or any official notices, the SSA will let you know.
