The Social Security Administration announced the 2025 COLA increase earlier this month and recipients will receive their COLA notices in December with specific details about their benefits. The COLA, or cost-of-living adjustment, is an annual change in monthly benefit payments for Social Security and Supplemental Security Income recipients to combat the effects of inflation.
For those who receive Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, the maximum monthly payment amounts have increased for 2025. Below, we'll go over the details and how much more you can expect to receive when the COLA goes into effect in January 2025.
For more, don't miss how to check your eligibility and apply for Supplemental Security Income.
What is the COLA increase for 2025?
The Social Security Administration announced that the COLA increase for 2025 is 2.5% -- down from 2024's 3.2%, and much lower than 2023's 8.7% increase. This minor increase was predicted by experts tracking inflation trends as early as March of this year. For the average Social Security recipient, this will amount to a $48 increase in their monthly checks.
Here are the new monthly SSI maximums for 2025
The monthly SSI payment amounts are calculated by increasing the unrounded annual amounts for the current year by the COLA that will officially go into effect the following January. However, the first monthly benefit payment for SSI recipients for 2025 will go out on Dec. 31, 2024.
Below are the new monthly maximums for 2025.
SSI Maximums 2024 vs. 2025
| Individual | $943 | $967 | $24 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Couple | $1,415 | $1,450 | $35 |
| Essential person | $472 | $484 | $12 |
Don't forget possible state-based SSI benefits
Along with the federal program, most states offer additional SSI benefits for qualifying recipients. Like federal SSI benefits, the supplemental state benefit is determined by multiple factors, such as income and living arrangements.
Depending on where you live, the supplemental benefit can be administered by the Social Security Administration, the state or by both, which is referred to as a dual administration state. With dual administration states, Social Security will administer some categories of supplemental payments, and the state will administer payments for other categories.
For more, don't miss the SSDI payment schedule and how to apply for Social Security benefits.