Unfortunately, this answer to whether Social Security Disability benefits can be increased is not as simple as “yes” or “no.” The amount of your Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefit depends on your earnings prior to becoming disabled. The amount of your Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit depends on your income and assets. The severity of your condition has no impact on your total monthly benefit.
Each year, SSDI and SSI benefits are potentially eligible for a cost of living (COLA) increase. While the COLA increases tend to be relatively small, every penny counts when talking about SSDI and SSI benefits. The COLA for 2019 was the highest in several years, increasing SSDI and SSI benefits by 2.8%.
Social Security Disability Benefit Increase
Other than through a COLA increase as noted above, there is only one other way to increase your SSDI benefit amount. The only other way to increase Social Security disability benefits is through work activity. However, engaging in work activity and collecting SSDI benefits is a tricky situation. In order to be eligible for SSDI benefits, you must be unable to work for at least twelve months.
Therefore, returning to work to increase your SSDI benefit may push you out of eligibility for that SSDI benefit altogether. However, if you did not work much prior to being found disabled or have a very low earnings history, working on a part time basis may increase your monthly SSDI benefit amount.
Contact Social Security
One way to confirm you are receiving the highest benefit to which you are entitled is to simply call your local Social Security office. They will be able to review your file and confirm that you are receiving the proper benefit amount.