Millions of Americans may not have noticed the subtle changes in Social Security benefits during the last 12 months. Benefits for Supplementary Security Income (SSI) recipients have increased gradually but consistently. The purpose of this adjustment is to guarantee that SSI payouts remain consistent with inflation. If you receive SSI, you should be aware of the following changes.
The average monthly SSI payment grew by $16.36 which is a 2.3% increase between March 2024 and March 2025. In March 2025, payments were $715.58, up from $699.22 in 2024. The 2.5% Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) that the Social Security Administration set for 2025 is closely reflected in this rise.
The biggest increase happened in January 2025, when the new COLA went into effect, causing monthly payments to spike from $696.70 in December to $714.37. Since then, the modest monthly improvements have been consistent.
The Real-Life Effects of Rising Social Security Checks
Despite the small growth of Social Security checks, they are significant since millions of Americans rely on SSI to pay for their most basic expenses, such as housing, food, and medical care. Because it helps them offset the growing costs of commodities due to inflation, people on fixed incomes are the ones who profit the most from the little monthly raise.
In March 2025, the purchasing power of $699.22 was almost equal to $715.94, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This indicates that, despite the slow increase, the updated checks are keeping up with inflation.
People Receiving SSI
There has been a minor increase in the number of SSI beneficiaries. The number of beneficiaries, according to Newsweek, rose slightly to 7,414,184 in March 2025 from 7,403,919 in March 2024. This shows that although benefit amounts are rising, the number of persons receiving them has remained relatively constant.
Food was no longer counted as in-kind support by the SSA after a policy change in late 2024. More persons were able to qualify as a result of this change, and average benefit amounts rose.
What Experts are Saying about Social Security Payment Increases
According to financial experts, the month-by-month changes in Social Security checks illustrate both stability and concern. Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor at the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek. “After the dramatic fluctuations in some benefits programs over the pandemic era, the SSI numbers over the last year demonstrate a stabilization both of recipients and the amount they’re receiving. It can be viewed as a good sign, in some ways, because it equates to fewer inflationary pressures, even if pricing remains high for many everyday items.”
Drew Powers, founder of Powers Financial Group, told Newsweek, “In real terms, seniors are a little worse off in 2025 because their SSI payments are not keeping up with the inflation they experience. Over time, these small differences add up and compound into a serious shortfall for the elderly.
Michael Ryan, founder of MichaelRyanMoney.com, told Newsweek, “The average monthly change since March has been pretty stable after that initial January increase. What’s interesting is that the COLA for 2025 is dropping to 2.5%, which tells us inflation is cooling down a bit.”
The Future of Social Security Payments
The SSA releases a new COLA each year that is determined by inflation rates. Later in 2025, the January 2026 COLA will be revealed. The government is able to ensure that Social Security benefits keep pace with inflation thanks to these yearly adjustments.
After the Social Security Fairness Act was signed into law, the SSA currently plans to expedite retroactive payments. In February 2025, the government acknowledged that it began making retroactive payments.
Nevertheless, the SSA is insolvent, and policymakers are closely monitoring the Social Security trust fund’s long-term viability. Funding shortages are predicted to begin around the middle of the 1930s if reforms are not implemented.
Conclusion
Each month, Social Security benefits have grown gradually but noticeably. Those who depend on SSI in particular have benefited greatly from that modest boost. Furthermore, the increase has maintained these benefits’ parity with inflation rates and increased their purchasing power.