What This Means for Your Disability Benefits – Michigan Disability Lawyers
The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced a 2026 Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) of 2.8%, providing a welcome increase in monthly benefits for millions of Americans who rely on Social Security Disability (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). This annual increase helps ensure benefits keep pace with inflation and rising costs of daily necessities, a significant adjustment for those living on a fixed income.
How much will benefits increase?
Starting in January 2026, nearly 71 million Social Security disability benefit recipients will see their monthly payments increase by 2.8%. On average, this means retirees will receive about $56 more per month. The increase will take effect on December 31, 2025, and beneficiaries will receive notification from the SSA regarding their benefit amounts in early December.
What is Coke?
COLA is designed to help beneficiaries maintain purchasing power when prices rise. Each year, SSA calculates adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) as determined by the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. In the past ten years, Coke's average growth rate has been approximately 3.1%, and the growth rate in 2025 is set at 2.5%.
How to check your new benefit amount
The SSA will begin notifying beneficiaries of the latest 2026 benefit amounts in early December. People with a mySocialSecurity account can access their COLA notice online, which is faster and more secure than waiting for a paper notice in the mail.
To view your notice digitally, you must set up an online account by November 19, 2025.
How will health insurance coverage be affected?
Information about Medicare changes in 2026 will be posted on the official Medicare website. For beneficiaries enrolled in both Social Security and Medicare, updates to your benefit amounts (reflecting any changes to Medicare premiums) will also appear in your mySocialSecurity message center starting in late November.
Supporting Michigan residents every step of the way
At Michigan Disability Lawyers, we know how important Social Security Disability and SSI benefits are to individuals and families in our state. An increase in COLA per year can make a meaningful difference, but the benefits system remains confusing and complex for many people.
If you have questions about disability benefits, our team is here to help. We are committed to helping Michigan residents get the benefits they deserve and helping them navigate the Social Security Disability approval process.
Please contact us today by submitting an online form or calling our office at (800) 949-2900 for a free case evaluation.
