People across the US who get SSI have been waiting with bated breath for the official news of the new maximum benefit increase. This is because it will determine how much money they will get in 2025.
If you are a beneficiary, your monthly Social Security payouts may go up a little starting in 2025. The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) shows how prices are rising.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) is now finishing up its cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). Find out more about the new amounts that people who get benefits from the retirement, widow, and disability programs will soon be getting.
How much will the SSI maximum benefit increase be next year?
Social Security recipients can keep up with inflation with the help of a yearly COLA adjustment. It is found by taking the average of the CPI-W’s growth from the third quarter of last year to the third quarter of this year.
In July and August 2025, the CPI-W went up 2.9% and 2.4%, respectively. Based on these price rises, it looks like inflation will be pretty low this year.
Experts expect a COLA of 2.5% to 2.6% for 2025, which is less than the 3.2% increase they expect in 2024, even though September’s data is not yet available.
People who get Social Security may get less of a cost-of-living increase than they thought they would because inflation is going down. To help you understand what these numbers mean for your Social Security payments, here is a list of the expected increases for different types of beneficiaries:
- SSI recipients: On average, these beneficiaries earn around $698 per month, which could increase up to $715.
- Retired workers: In August 2024, the average retired worker’s monthly benefit was approximately $1,920. With a 2.5% COLA, the monthly payment may rise by around $48, bringing it to nearly $1,968 by 2025.
- Retired couples: Couples receiving benefits jointly may see their monthly check increase by around $96 from $3,840 to $3,937.
- Disability recipients: Those receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) may see their average payout increase from $1,540 to $1,578, a $38.50 increase.
- Survivors: A widow or widower receiving survivor benefits may expect their average payment to rise from $1,784 to $1,829, a $45 increase.
Along with these average payment amounts, the Social Security Administration also gives maximum benefits to people who meet strict requirements.
For example, they must wait to get benefits until they turn 70 and have paid into Social Security based on their maximum taxable earnings for the retirement program.
This depends on their type of disability for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or their filing category for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Here is a list of all the government programs that offer maximum payment amounts:
| Maximum Social Security checks | Social Security checks | 2.5% COLA increase | Extra income |
| Retirement benefits | $4,873 | $4,995 | $122 |
| Survivor benefits | $3,653 | $3,744 | $91 |
| Disability benefits | $3,822 | $3,918 | $96 |
| SSI benefits | $1,415 | $1,450 | $35 |
These amounts are a good guess, but keep in mind that your actual benefits may be a little different based on your situation and the final COLA percentage.
Do not forget that once the SSA releases the official COLA, you can figure out your new monthly benefit by adding the percentage raise to the amount you already get.
You can check your updated benefits through your My Social Security account if you would rather wait for official proof. In December, the SSA will send personalized notices.
Next week millions of Americans could be eligible to qualify for the SSI program
Millions of low-income people who depend on SSI to cover their basic costs will see new changes to the program next week. The Social Security Administration announced a final rule that says payments to some people who get food stamps will not be cut.
Starting September 30, food will no longer be used to decide if someone is eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). After making changes in September, Social Security will start sending money again in October.
At the moment, getting food, housing, or both can be seen as unearned income for SSI recipients, which can mean that their payments go down or their ability to get benefits is affected.
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