Published on: December 20, 2023
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are critical safety net programs in the United States that provide financial assistance to individuals who are unable to work due to a disability. The programs are designed to offer a stable source of income to those who qualify, helping them meet their basic needs. However, the question of whether the SSDI or SSI programs are giving extra money this month is a bit more complex. In this article, we will explore the key aspects of SSDI, including potential increases in benefits, cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs), and other factors that influence changes in the frequency of your benefit payments.
SSI Payment Schedules
A few times every year, the Social Security Administration sends out more than one SSI payment in a single month. While you may receive two SSI payments in one month, the money is not actually an “extra” payment.
Unlike SSDI, Social Security retirement, and survivors’ payments, the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program sends out payments on the first day of each month, unless the first of the month falls on a weekend or a holiday. When the first day of the month does fall on either a weekend or a holiday, the SSA sends out the SSI payment on the first day before first of the month that is neither a Saturday nor a holiday.
According to this schedule, if the first day of a month falls on a Sunday, then the new month’s SSI payment would be sent out on the preceding Friday even though you already received a payment on the first of that current month.
Other programs, including SSDI, survivors, and SS retirement benefits are sent out by their respective programs on different days of the month, depending on factors such as when the benefits began and which day of the month was the recipient’s birthdate.
The Basics of Social Security Disability
Before delving into the question of extra money, it's essential to understand the basics of the Social Security Disability Insurance program:
- Eligibility: To qualify for SSDI benefits, an individual must have a medical condition that meets the Social Security Administration's definition of disability. This condition must be expected to last at least one year or result in death. Additionally, applicants must have earned enough work credits through their employment history to be eligible for benefits.
- Monthly Payments: SSDI provides monthly cash benefits to eligible individuals. The amount of these payments is determined based on the individual's work history and lifetime earnings. It can vary widely from person to person.
Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLAs)
Social Security, including SSDI benefits, is subject to annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs). These adjustments are designed to help beneficiaries keep up with the rising cost of living due to inflation. COLAs are typically calculated based on changes in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).
Each year, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announces any COLA increases for the following year. The COLA increase for 2024 will raise the amount of benefit payments by 3.2%. The purpose of these adjustments is to ensure that the purchasing power of Social Security benefits remains relatively stable. If there is a COLA increase, it affects all Social Security beneficiaries, including those receiving SSDI.
Note: The first Social Security check you receive in 2024 including the new 3.2 COLA increase will be in January 2024.
Recent COLA Increases
To answer the question of whether SSDI is giving extra money this month, we need to consider the most recent COLA adjustments. This year’s COLA is significantly lower than it was in either 2022 (5.9%) or 2023 (8.7%). The rate is based on the consumer price index of a market basket of consumer items by urban wage earners and clerical workers in the third quarter of the preceding year. As that rate increases or decreases each year, so do does the COLA increase paid to Social Security recipients.
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Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income claims can be confusing to the untrained claimant and their families. Even the payment schedule can become so complex that someone waiting for a payment could be uncertain about when their funds will arrive.
If you have any questions about how Social Security Disability or SSI claims work, how to qualify, how to apply, or how your benefits are determined, contact the Disability Experts of Florida today.
You need to be able to rely on the information you receive about your Social Security benefits. Do you know how long you have to appeal a denial of your claim before it’s too late? Do you know what documents and supporting evidence must be submitted with your claim to ensure it is not delayed for incompleteness or simply denied?
We have all the information and we have many years of expertise guiding people with disabilities through this difficult process and successfully winning them their full benefits.
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