$1,450 SSI Payments After the 2025 COLA Increase – Check Your Eligibility

The 2025 Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) brings important updates to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments, raising the maximum amounts for eligible recipients by 2.5%. This increase will help low-income individuals, couples, and essential persons who rely on these payments. If you’re receiving SSI or plan to in the near future, here’s what you need to know about the upcoming changes.

Maximum Amounts

SSI provides financial support to individuals with low income, few resources, and disabilities or to those who are 65 and older. The maximum SSI payments vary depending on your marital status and living situation. As of 2024, the maximum monthly amounts are:

• Individuals: $943
• Eligible married couples: $1,415
• Essential persons: $472

With the 2.5% COLA increase, these amounts will rise:

Category	2024 Max Payment	2025 Max Payment
Individual	$943	$967
Married couple (eligible)	$1,415	$1,450
Essential person	$472	$484

For an individual, the maximum monthly SSI payment will rise to $967. Married couples eligible for SSI can receive up to $1,450 per month in 2025. Essential persons, those who live with and care for an SSI recipient, will see their payment rise to $484.

Benefits

Many SSI recipients also receive Social Security retirement or SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) benefits. It’s important to note that receiving other benefits will reduce the amount of your monthly SSI payment, as SSI is intended to supplement your income. For example, if you’re receiving SSDI, the total amount of your SSI payment will be adjusted downward.

Average Payments

The average SSI payments for different age groups also reflect these increases:

• 65 and older: As of August 2024, the average payment for recipients aged 65 or older is about $575 per month. This will rise slightly in 2025.
• Under 18: Younger recipients, who generally cannot receive retirement or SSDI benefits on their own, currently receive higher average payments, with $820 being typical. These payments are expected to increase as well.

Other Payment

If you receive SSI but do not collect the maximum amount, your payments will still increase based on the COLA. Here’s how some of the payment brackets will change after the 2.5% adjustment:

Current SSI Payment	2025 Payment
$500	$512
$600	$615
$700	$717
$800	$820
$900	$922
$1,000	$1,025
$1,100	$1,127
$1,200	$1,230

As you can see, each payment bracket increases by 2.5%, helping SSI recipients keep up with rising living costs. While these increases might seem small, they provide valuable assistance to those living on fixed incomes.

First Payment

The first SSI payment reflecting the 2025 COLA increase will be issued on December 31, 2024. SSI payments are typically sent on the 1st of every month, but when the 1st falls on a holiday or weekend, the payment is distributed earlier. In this case, the payment is moved up due to the New Year’s Day holiday.

Maximizing Your Benefits

SSI is designed to help those who need financial assistance the most, but it’s important to know how the program works to make sure you’re maximizing your benefits. Here are a few things to consider:

• Income and Resources: SSI is intended for individuals with limited income and resources. If your income exceeds certain limits, your SSI benefit could be reduced or eliminated.
• Combined Benefits: If you receive other Social Security benefits, such as retirement or SSDI, your SSI payments will be adjusted accordingly to prevent overpayment.
• Work and Credits: While SSI does not require the same work history as Social Security retirement benefits, you may qualify for other Social Security benefits if you have earned enough credits through your work history.

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