COLA

New Online Social Security COLA Notices

September 27, 2018 • By

Reading Time: 2 Minutes

Last Updated: November 3, 2023

man on computer We are constantly expanding our online services to give you freedom and control when doing business with us. Our new online cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) notices are another example of our commitment in this area.

Later this year, we will post the Social Security COLA notices online for retirement, survivors, and disability beneficiaries with a personal my Social Security account. The announcement of the COLA amount will occur in October, but final benefit amounts won’t be calculated and available until December, when we mail COLA notices that contain the benefit amount for the next calendar year.

These COLA notices will now be available to view and save via the online Message Center inside my Social Security. The Message Center is a secure, convenient portal where you can receive sensitive communications we don’t send through email or text.

This year, individuals will still receive COLA notices by mail. In the future, they will be able to choose whether they receive their notice online instead of on paper.

Online notices will not be available to representative payees, individuals with foreign mailing addresses, or those who pay higher Medicare premiums due to their income. We plan to expand the availability of COLA notices to additional online customers in the future.

Remember, our services are always free of charge. No government agency or reputable company will solicit your personal information by email or request advanced fees for services in the form of wire transfers or gift cards. Avoid falling victim to fraudulent internet “phishing” schemes by not revealing personal information, selecting malicious links, or opening malicious attachments. You can learn more about the ways we protect your investment, personal information, and my Social Security account here.

Social Security’s online services make it easy to have the best experience possible by putting you in control of your time. Sign up for or log in to your personal my Social Security account today and choose email or text under “Message Center Preferences” to receive courtesy notifications so you won’t miss your electronic COLA notice!

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About the Author

Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications

Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications

Comments

  1. henry i.

    have not received mail from ss re 2021 benefits

    • Sue

      Hi, Henry Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. We are mailing 2021 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) notices throughout December to retirement, survivors, and disability beneficiaries, SSI recipients, and representative payees. If you would like the notice sooner, you can securely view the COLA notice online in the Message Center of your my Social Security account and save it. If you don’t have an account, create one today. We hope this helps!

  2. Theresa D.

    All my friends have received mail from ss re 2021 benefits. I have received nothing from ss.

  3. PENNY B.

    I received my ‘SS new benefit amount’ papers in the mail and I did not get my 1.3% COLA increase. It would have amounted to a whopping $8 which I could use for something?

    • Vonda

      Hi Penny, thanks for using the blog to ask your question. All monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for more than 70 million Americans will increase 1.3 percent in 2021. For more details about the new COLA, visit our Cost-of-Living Adjustment information page. We hope this information is helpful!

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