The Social Security Administration (SSA) has officially announced when disability benefits will be paid in October. People who are eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) will get an average of $1,537 every month. On the other hand, people who have paid enough into Social Security during their working years may be able to get up to $3,822 all at once.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has also said that people who are legally blind will get $2,590 every month. For at least one year, the SSA says that a person is legally blind if they can’t get their better eye’s vision fixed to better than 20/200 or if their better eye’s field of vision is limited to 20 degrees or less.
Extra benefits for disability beneficiaries in October
It is important to remember that blind people may be able to get both SSDI and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payouts. In order to be qualified, they had to have earned enough credits while they were working.
If someone hasn’t earned enough work credits by the time they are officially blind, they can use the credits that their parents or partner have earned to get these benefits. This part of the law makes it easier for people with disabilities to get cash help.
Key dates for disability benefit payments in October
More than 70 million payouts are made every month by the Social Security Administration. The SSA has set up an annual payment plan so that beneficiaries know when they can expect their money. This schedule lets people who are eligible plan their lives around their unique program and payment date. Five payment rounds will happen in October. Remember these important dates:
- October 1: SSI beneficiaries will receive their monthly payment on the first day of the month.
- October 3: Retired, Survivor, and Disability Insurance (RSDI) beneficiaries who filed for benefits before May 1997 will receive their monthly payment on this date.
- October 9: RSDI beneficiaries born between the 1st and 10th of any month, who applied for benefits after May 1997, will receive their payment on this date.
- October 16: RSDI beneficiaries born between the 11th and 20th of the month will receive their monthly payment.
- October 23: RSDI beneficiaries born between the 21st and 31st will receive their payment on the fourth Wednesday of the month.
This plan says that people who are eligible for disability payments will get their money on October 3, 16, or 23, based on when they applied for benefits and what date they were born.
How to check your Social Security account
The Social Security Administration has a helpful tool called “My Social Security account” that you can use if you need more information about your monthly payment or have questions about the state of your benefits. By creating and logging into this account, you can look over your financial documents, check on the status of your payments, and do other things that have to do with Social Security.
Checking your account often is a good idea because it will keep you up to date on any changes to your payment or news that could affect when you get your benefits.
Cost-Of-Living Adjustments (COLA): What to expect in 2025
The yearly cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, is one of the most important parts of Social Security benefits. The goal of this change is to help beneficiaries keep up with inflation so that their payments keep their buying power over time.
The CPI was set at 3.2% for 2024, and this raise is already showing up in the monthly payments that beneficiaries get. But estimates for 2025 say that this percentage might be smaller. The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) says that the COLA for next year could be anywhere from 2.5% to 3%.
How will the COLA affect disability beneficiaries?
Even though the exact COLA percentage for 2025 hasn’t been decided yet, it’s likely that the rise will be smaller than in previous years. If the COLA is set at 2.5%, the following is an estimate of how much disabled benefits might go up:
- SSDI beneficiaries: Those currently receiving an average of $1,537 per month could see an increase of around $38, raising their monthly payment to $1,575.
- Blind individuals: Beneficiaries receiving $2,590 per month could experience a $65 increase, bringing their payment to $2,655 per month.
- Maximum benefit recipients: Individuals receiving the maximum monthly benefit of $3,822 could see their check increase by approximately $96, boosting their monthly amount to $3,918.
The SSA has promised to change payments to keep up with inflation, which is shown by these possible price hikes. The goal is to make sure that people who are supposed to get money keep getting it, even though the cost of living is going up. But the final COLA change won’t be made official until later in 2024. That’s when users will know the exact amount of their 2025 raise.
These changes are very important for many people who count on Social Security benefits to stay financially stable. When inflation changes, COLA raises help to balance out the effects of higher prices for things like food, housing, and medical care.
In the long term, it’s important for beneficiaries to keep up with these yearly changes. You can better handle your money and plan for the future if you keep track of changes to your benefits and any COLA changes.
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