In the United States, there are 2 types of disability benefits. One of them is for those workers whose condition prevents them from working for over a year and meets the strict definition of disability. If you do not meet Social Security’s strict definition of disability, you do not qualify for any of the two benefits. For this monthly payment, SSDI, you need to earn enough work credits and have a qualifying condition then.
However, if you have not had time to earn enough work credits because of your disability, you may still qualify for SSI. This is the Supplemental Security Income and both adults and children who are eligible can receive it.
First Americans on disability benefits to get COLA
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has claimed that the COLA will arrive first for SSI recipients. In fact, they will receive the cost-of-living adjustment for their disability benefit in 2024.
While SSDI recipients will get it in January 2025. Of course, there is not a big difference but it will be better to get your disability benefit with the COLA increase as soon as possible.
Even if the Social Security Administration announced the COLA boost on October 10, 2024, disability recipients and retirees must wait to have it in their bank accounts or mail boxes.
Exact dates for the COLA increase if you get a disability benefit
SSI recipients will get the 2025 COLA increase on December 31, 2024. Therefore, they will receive their January 1, 2025, payment one day before the actual due date. SSA sends money on the previous business day when there is a Federal Holiday.
Do not forget that the first SSDI recipients to get the 2025 COLA will be those who receive their payment on the third. So, they must have been on disability benefits before May 1997 to get the COLA increase on January 3, 2025.
After this payday, disability benefits will arrive with the COLA increase on January 8, 15 and 22. So, SSDI recipients whose birthday is from 21-31 will have to wait longer to get their COLA increase.