For the first time, individuals with disabilities could see their Supplemental Security Income benefit from the federal government top $1,000 per month.
The Social Security Administration said Wednesday that SSI and Social Security benefits will rise 3.6% in the new year.
The increase is due to an annual automatic cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, that’s tied to inflation.
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With the change, the maximum federal SSI benefit for individuals will be $1,029 per month, up from $994 this year. For couples, that number will be $1,544 per month compared to $1,491 this year.
Payments to certain beneficiaries could be higher because some states contribute extra.
The higher payments will take effect Dec. 31 for the 7.3 million SSI beneficiaries across the country and in January for those receiving Social Security.
The Social Security Administration will notify beneficiaries by mail in December about their new benefit amount and any deductions. Or, individuals can access the information in late November if they have an account on the agency’s website.
The COLA for 2027 is the largest since 2023 and is slightly higher than average, according to The Senior Citizens League, a nonpartisan group that advocates for seniors. By comparison, the COLA for this year was 2.8%.
Still, Shannon Benton, executive director of The Senior Citizens League, said the benefit increase is inadequate and comes months after inflation drove up prices for beneficiaries.
“Congress cannot control every price increase, but it can act to ensure that the COLA formula does not leave people behind,” she said. “The people who depend on these benefits cannot afford another year of empty promises, inadequate adjustments and shrinking purchasing power.”
