How will the 2026 SSDI changes affect current beneficiaries receiving partial benefits?
Executive summary
The Social Security Administration announced a 2.8% cost‑of‑living adjustment (COLA) for 2026, which will raise SSDI checks — the agency estimates nearly 71–75 million beneficiaries see the COLA and the average SSDI payment rises from about $1,586 in 2025 to roughly $1,630 in 2026, a $44 increase on average [1] [2]. The substantial gainful activity (SGA) limit for most SSDI beneficiaries increases to $1,690 per month in 2026, and blind beneficiaries’ SGA rises to $2,830 [3].
1. What the COLA actually means for partial‑benefit SSDI recipients
A 2.8% COLA increases monthly SSDI payments automatically in January 2026 (SSI recipients see the December 31, 2025 payment reflect the change) [1] [4]. For the average SSDI recipient the boost is relatively small — federal estimates show roughly a $44 average monthly rise from 2025 to 2026 (from about $1,586 to $1,630) [2]. Law‑firm and advocacy summaries repeat the same numbers and note the increase is intended simply to help benefits keep pace with inflation [4] [5].
2. How SGA rules interact with “partial” benefits and working
SSDI is designed to stop when a beneficiary’s earnings reach the substantial gainful activity threshold; that SGA level increases to $1,690 per month for most non‑blind beneficiaries in 2026 and $2,830 for people receiving SSDI for blindness [3]. That annual rise means some people now on partial benefits who are working can earn more in 2026 before risking automatic cessation of benefits; advocates note SGA limits rise because they track average wages [6] [3].
3. Net change can be smaller after Medicare and other offsets
The headline COLA does not equal take‑home change for everyone: Medicare Part B premiums and other deductions can reduce the net increase. Examples in reporting show if your SSDI rises by $44 but Medicare premiums go up $17.90 for you, your net increase is only about $26 [2]. News outlets and law firms flag that Medicare premium changes and new tax rules for seniors can alter what beneficiaries actually receive in their checks [7] [2].
4. What “partial benefits” refers to and where reporting is silent
Many sources use “partial benefits” to describe reduced payments during trials to return to work, apportioned family benefits, or situations where benefits are offset by other income. The provided sources explain trial work periods, SGA and earnings thresholds but do not define a single federal category labeled “partial benefits” or provide specific mechanics for every partial‑benefit scenario (available sources do not mention a unified federal definition of “partial benefits”; see [3]; p1_s7). For specific cases — like concurrent receipt with other programs or state offsets — the current reporting doesn’t detail every interaction (not found in current reporting).
5. Practical effects for someone testing work while on SSDI
Because the SGA limit rises, people testing work can generally earn up to the new SGA level ($1,690 or $2,830 for blindness) without immediate loss of SSDI, and the Ticket to Work program remains a voluntary route to try employment while preserving benefits [3] [8]. Agencies emphasize reporting earnings to SSA because benefit reductions and eligibility reviews hinge on actual earnings, and routine updates to earnings thresholds aim to give beneficiaries more breathing room to attempt employment [9] [8].
6. Competing perspectives and hidden agendas in coverage
Advocacy and law‑firm pieces frame the COLA as modest relief for people on tight budgets, while SSA announcements present the change as routine, formulaic inflation protection [4] [1]. Media advising retirees and beneficiaries also foregrounds complicating factors — Medicare premium shifts and a new senior tax deduction — that can blunt headline increases; those outlets may emphasize consumer choices like Medicare plan shopping [7]. Law firms and advocacy groups have an explicit client‑helping agenda, so they stress practical impacts and individualized calculations [4] [10].
7. What beneficiaries should do now
The sources converge on clear steps: review your SSA notice for your 2026 dollar amount, check whether Medicare Part B or other withholdings apply to you, report any changes in work or earnings to SSA, and consider Ticket to Work supports if you plan to test employment [1] [2] [8]. For scenarios not spelled out in these summaries — for example specific state tax interactions or unusual offsets — beneficiaries should consult SSA guidance or a qualified adviser because the reporting here does not cover every edge case (not found in current reporting).
Limitations: This article uses only the provided sources; it does not include SSA policy memos beyond public COLA and SGA announcements and does not attempt individualized benefit calculations [1] [3] [2].