For Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), it is rare for these government programs to have complete program reforms or significant overhauls. 
For current recipients of Social Security disability benefits, the most important aspects you need to be aware of are legislative and administrative changes to Social Security disability benefits.
Also, it is critical to stay updated on the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) as this figure affects the sum of your monthly SSDI and SSI payments.
Key Terms:
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI): A government program that provides disability benefits to individuals who have accumulated the necessary work credits through their employment and need financial assistance due to their long-term disability.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI): A government program that provides supplemental income to individuals with limited income who are disabled, blind, elderly, or otherwise unable to work, regardless of their work history.
Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA): COLA is the annual increase provided to Social Security, SSDI, and SSI payments to help recipients’ benefits keep up with inflation. It aims to ensure that individuals receiving this assistance can maintain their quality of life and purchasing power despite the increasing prices of goods and services over time.
Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA): Substantial Gainful Activity, or SGA, refers to the maximum monthly income an individual can earn outside of their disability payments without losing access to their existing SSDI or SSI benefits. It is crucial to know the SGA limits as earning above the SGA limit can result in the loss of your Social Security disability benefits.
What Is the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2025?
The Social Security Administration has announced a 2.5% COLA for 2025 Social Security benefits. This means recipients of SSDI and SSI will receive a 2.5% increase in monthly disability benefit payments. For SSI recipients, this adjustment will be reflected beginning December 31st, 2024. For SSDI recipients, this adjustment will be reflected starting January 1st, 2025.
Has the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) Limit Changed for 2025?
Substantial Gainful Activity, SGA, refers to activities outside your monthly disability benefit payments that generate income. If your income from gainful activities exceeds the SGA limit, you can be at risk of losing your Social Security disability benefits.
As we enter 2025, the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limit for non-blind individuals will be $1,620, up from $1,550 in 2024. Furthermore, for 2025, the Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limit for statutorily blind individuals will be $2,700, up from $2,590 in 2024.
| Category | 2024 SGA Limit | 2025 SGA Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Blind Individuals | $1,550 | $1,620 |
| Statutorily Blind | $2,590 | $2,700 |
These new Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limits for 2025 can allow you to earn more from income-generating activities outside of your Social Security disability benefits without risking the loss of your SSI or SSDI payments.
It Is Critical To Be Informed About Changes to Your SSDI and SSI Benefits
It is essential to stay updated with administrative changes and updates to your Social Security disability benefits by visiting the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) update archive page for the current year. While we have covered some key changes to Social Security benefits for 2025, there may be further updates and information on the SSA website. We highly encourage you to visit ssa.gov and bookmark this page.
However, if you have recently received a denial for a Social Security Disability benefit application, the experienced team at Michael Armstrong Law can help you navigate the complex Social Security Disability appeals process.