Cost of Living Adjustment for SSDI Benefits
A cost of living adjustment, or COLA, is an increase in your disability benefits to ensure that your payments keep up with inflation. While COLA increases can be very small, even a seemingly insignificant amount to a person living on a fixed income can be major. At Disability Action Advocates, we understand what it is to live on a very small monthly budget and how difficult it is to make ends meet.
Increasing Disability Benefits
Cost of living adjustments are possible for people who receive Social Security benefits, including Social Security Disability benefits under
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and
Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The
Social Security Administration bases the COLA on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which is a measure of inflation produced by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The CPI measures purchases made by people in the U.S, such as:
- Food and beverages
- Housing
- Clothing
- Transportation and gas
- Medical care
- Recreation
- Education
- Communication
- Miscellaneous purchases
The SSA added COLA increases to disability benefits every year from 1975-2008, but not in the years following. Beginning on December 30, 2011, however, COLA increased disability benefits by 3.6 %, which is a welcome addition for people who rely on their benefits for survival.
Assisting Those in Need of Greater Benefits
We work every day with people from all kinds of backgrounds who have suffered hardships, and do what we can to ease their troubles. We are proud of our involvement in many non-profit activities and have strongly supported our communities through homeless outreach and fundraising for mental health awareness. We invite you to contact an attorney at your earliest opportunity to learn more about COLA and how we may be able to help with your Social Security Disability matter.