As with all Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit recipients, Indiana disability benefits recipients are not going to see an increase in their monthly disability payment in 2011. On October 15th, 2010, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced that there would be no Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA) for 2011. This is the second year in a row that there was not an increase to SSDI, SSI or Social Security retirement benefit payments. Over 50 million Americans receive some form of Social Security benefit.
What are Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA)? COLA is an automatic adjustment to the SSDI or SSI recipient’s monthly benefits that may occur each year. The COLA increase is based on the percentage increase from year to year of the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Worker (CPI-W) during the third quarter of the year. This percentage increase of COLA is strictly based on the CPI-W increase so, when there is not an increase in the CPI-W then there is no increase in COLA. CPI-W increases are determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the Department of Labor. The purpose of the COLA increase is so the purchasing power of SSDI or SSI benefits keep in pace with consumer prices and that benefits are not eroded by inflation.
Why isn’t there a COLA increase in 2011? As in 2010, because there was no increase in the CPI-W from the third quarter of the previous year to the third quarter of the current year. Therefore, SSDI and SSI payments will remain the same in 2011. In the last two years, overall inflation has been low, largely because of the economic downturn. It has been predicted by the Congressional Budget Office that inflation will remain low for the next several years. As a result, this may mean that Social Security recipients may not see a COLA increase for several years to come.
Even with the economic downturn, SSDI and SSI claimants are still receiving their monthly disability payments and hopefully will never see a decrease in these payments. Indianapolis Social Security Disability Lawyer, Scott D. Lewis represents clients with various disabilities. If you or someone you know is unable to work due to back problems, arthritis, mental disorders or a combination of impairments, you may qualify for Social Security disability benefits.
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