Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) payments go up 3.6% in January 2027. The average disabled worker’s benefit rises from about $1,642 to about $1,701 a month, according to the Social Security Administration. It’s the largest cost-of-living increase since 2023.
Key takeaways
- The 3.6% raise is automatic. You don’t have to apply or call.
- SSDI recipients see the new amount in their January 2027 payment. SSI recipients see it first on December 31, 2026.
- You can earn up to $1,770 a month in 2027 ($2,950 if you’re blind) and still be considered disabled.
- The maximum federal SSI payment rises to $1,029 for an individual and $1,544 for a couple.
What your SSDI check will be in 2027
There’s no single SSDI amount. Your benefit is based on your own lifetime earnings, so two people with the same condition can receive very different checks. Find the amount closest to what you get now:
| Monthly benefit in 2026 | Monthly benefit in 2027 | Monthly increase |
|---|---|---|
| $800 | $829 | $29 |
| $1,000 | $1,036 | $36 |
| $1,200 | $1,243 | $43 |
| $1,400 | $1,450 | $50 |
| $1,642 | $1,701 | $59 |
| $1,800 | $1,865 | $65 |
| $2,000 | $2,072 | $72 |
| $2,500 | $2,590 | $90 |
| $3,000 | $3,108 | $108 |
Estimates before any Medicare premium deduction. Your exact amount will be in your December notice from Social Security.
Why your raise might look smaller than 3.6%
If you’re on Medicare, your Part B premium comes out of your Social Security payment before it reaches your bank. When the premium goes up in January, it takes a bite out of the raise. Check the Medicare premium line on your December notice so the deposit amount doesn’t surprise you.
2027 SSDI numbers at a glance
| What | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-of-living adjustment | 2.8% | 3.6% |
| Average disabled worker benefit | $1,642 | $1,701 |
| Earnings limit, non-blind (SGA) | $1,690/month | $1,770/month |
| Earnings limit, blind (SGA) | $2,830/month | $2,950/month |
| Trial work period month | $1,210/month | $1,270/month |
| SSI federal maximum, individual | $994 | $1,029 |
| SSI federal maximum, couple | $1,491 | $1,544 |
When SSDI is paid in 2027
Your payment date depends on your birthday. If you started benefits before May 1997, or you get both SSDI and SSI, you’re paid on the 3rd of the month instead.
| Month | Born 1st to 10th | Born 11th to 20th | Born 21st to 31st |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Jan 13 | Jan 20 | Jan 27 |
| February | Feb 10 | Feb 17 | Feb 24 |
| March | Mar 10 | Mar 17 | Mar 24 |
| April | Apr 14 | Apr 21 | Apr 28 |
| May | May 12 | May 19 | May 26 |
| June | Jun 9 | Jun 16 | Jun 23 |
| July | Jul 14 | Jul 21 | Jul 28 |
| August | Aug 11 | Aug 18 | Aug 25 |
| September | Sep 8 | Sep 15 | Sep 22 |
| October | Oct 13 | Oct 20 | Oct 27 |
| November | Nov 10 | Nov 17 | Nov 24 |
| December | Dec 8 | Dec 15 | Dec 22 |
Payments fall on the second, third, and fourth Wednesday of each month.
Working while on SSDI in 2027
Social Security uses a monthly earnings line called Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) to decide whether someone is able to work. In 2027 that line is $1,770 a month before taxes. Earn more than that on a regular basis and Social Security may decide you’re no longer disabled.
There’s a safety net if you want to try. The trial work period gives you nine months, which don’t have to be in a row, to earn as much as you can without losing any benefits. In 2027, any month you earn more than $1,270 counts as one of the nine.
Still waiting on a decision?
The raise helps you too. If you’re approved in 2027, your benefit is calculated with every cost-of-living increase since you became eligible, including this one. Your back pay will reflect the rates that applied in each month you were owed.
Common questions
How do I find my exact 2027 amount?
Social Security posts cost-of-living notices in the Message Center of your my Social Security account in early December and mails paper notices through the month.
Is SSDI taxed?
It can be. If SSDI is your only income, you probably won’t owe federal tax on it. If you have other income, or your spouse does, up to 85% of your benefit may be taxable.
