Who gets the $56 increase and when

A $56 monthly increase to Social Security benefits is not automatic for all beneficiaries. The increase applies only to people who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a needs-based program for older adults, blind individuals, and people with disabilities who have limited income and resources. The increase took effect in January 2024 as part of the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).

If you receive only regular Social Security retirement, survivor, or disability benefits (SSDI), you received a different COLA amount in January 2024 — that year's adjustment was 3.2 percent of your individual benefit amount, which varies by person. The $56 figure applies specifically to SSI recipients, and only to the federal portion of the benefit. Some states add their own supplement to SSI, which may or may not increase alongside the federal adjustment.

The increase was deposited automatically if you were already receiving SSI in December 2023. You did not need to do anything to receive it. If you started receiving SSI after January 2024, the $56 is already built into your first payment.

Key Takeaways

  • The $56 monthly increase applies to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients only, not to regular Social Security retirement or disability beneficiaries.
  • The increase was automatic in January 2024 and required no action on your part if you were already receiving SSI.
  • Your state may provide an additional SSI supplement that has its own increase schedule, separate from the federal adjustment.
  • COLA increases happen once per year in January and are based on inflation measured by the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).

How COLA increases work and why they vary

The Social Security Administration calculates a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) each year based on inflation data from the previous year. The COLA percentage is the same for all Social Security beneficiaries — both SSDI and retirement — but the dollar amount you receive depends on your current benefit. A person receiving $1,000 per month gets a larger dollar increase than someone receiving $500 per month, even though the percentage is identical.

SSI has a different structure. The federal benefit amount for SSI is set by Congress and adjusted by the same COLA percentage each year. In 2024, that percentage was 3.2 percent. For the maximum federal SSI benefit, that translated to approximately $56 per month. If you receive less than the maximum SSI benefit, your increase would be proportionally smaller.

The COLA is calculated using the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from the third quarter of the previous year. If inflation is low or prices fall, the COLA can be zero — beneficiaries receive no increase that year. This happened in 2016 and 2010.

SSI versus regular Social Security benefits

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or retirement benefits are separate programs with different rules, even though the Social Security Administration runs both. Understanding which one you receive matters because the income limits, resource limits, and how increases are calculated differ significantly.

SSI is a needs-based program. To receive it, your income and resources must fall below certain thresholds set by federal law. In 2024, the resource limit for an individual is $2,000 and for a couple is $3,000. Your home and one vehicle do not count toward this limit, but savings, investments, and other property do. SSI also counts income from other sources — including part-time work, pensions, and even some Social Security benefits — against your SSI payment.

SSDI and Social Security retirement benefits are not needs-based. You do not have to prove you have low income or few resources to keep receiving them. However, if you work and earn above a certain amount (the substantial gainful activity limit, which changes yearly), you may lose benefits temporarily or have them reduced.

What the increase means for your budget and benefits

A $56 monthly increase amounts to $672 per year. For someone living on a fixed income, this can help offset rising costs for food, utilities, or medication. However, the increase may also affect other benefits you receive, depending on your situation.

If you receive both SSI and other means-tested benefits — such as food assistance (SNAP), housing assistance, or Medicaid — the increase in your SSI payment may reduce those other benefits. Many assistance programs count income, and a higher SSI payment counts as income. You should contact your local food assistance office, housing authority, or Medicaid office to ask whether the SSI increase will affect your other benefits. The impact varies by program and by state.

If you receive SSI and also receive a small amount of Social Security retirement or SSDI, the SSI program counts that Social Security income against your SSI benefit. When Social Security increases, your SSI payment may decrease by the same amount, leaving your total unchanged. This is called the "deemed income" rule. Ask the Social Security Administration whether this applies to you.

State SSI supplements and how they work

Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia provide their own supplement to the federal SSI benefit. These state supplements are additional money paid to SSI recipients who live in that state. The amount varies widely — some states add only a few dollars per month, while others add $100 or more.

State supplements do not automatically increase by the same COLA percentage as the federal benefit. Some states tie their supplement to the federal COLA, some increase it by a different percentage, and some do not increase it at all. You need to contact your state's SSI program directly to find out whether your state supplement increased in 2024 and by how much.

If you moved to a different state, your SSI payment may change because the state supplement is different. The federal portion stays the same, but the state portion may be higher, lower, or nonexistent depending on where you now live.

How to verify your payment and report changes

Check your Social Security statement or payment notice to confirm that the $56 increase (or your proportional share of it) was included in your January 2024 payment. If you receive SSI by direct deposit, look at your bank statement for the deposit amount. If you receive a paper check, the check amount should reflect the increase.

If your payment did not increase, or if the increase is smaller than expected, contact the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to ask why. Have your Social Security number and recent payment statement ready. You can also visit your local Social Security office in person.

Report any changes in your income, resources, living situation, or work status to Social Security within 10 days. SSI is sensitive to changes in income and resources, and failing to report can result in overpayments that you may have to repay. If your income or resources increased, your SSI payment may decrease or stop.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the $56 increase affect my Medicaid or food assistance?

It may. Many states count SSI income when determining Medicaid and SNAP (food assistance) may be able to access and benefit amounts. Contact your state's Medicaid office and food assistance office to ask how the SSI increase affects your benefits. Some states have protections that prevent small increases from reducing other benefits, but this varies.

I receive both SSI and Social Security retirement. Will my total payment go up by $56?

Not necessarily. SSI counts your Social Security income against your SSI payment. If your Social Security benefit also increased in January 2024, your SSI payment may decrease by that same amount, leaving your total unchanged or only slightly higher. Contact Social Security to ask about your specific situation.

What if I did not receive the increase in January?

Contact the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 to report the missing increase. Have your payment statement and bank records ready. If the increase was not deposited, Social Security can investigate and issue a back payment if you are owed it.

Does the $56 increase apply if I just started receiving SSI?

If you started receiving SSI after January 2024, the $56 increase is already included in your benefit amount. You will not receive it as a separate payment. Your benefit is calculated using the 2024 federal SSI rate, which includes the COLA adjustment.

How often do SSI benefits increase?

SSI benefits increase once per year in January, based on the COLA calculation. The COLA is announced in October of the previous year. If inflation is low or prices fall, there may be no increase that year.