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

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Comments

  1. Ligia E.

    Good afternoon, I need to know how the COLA benefits are affected when you moved, I recently moved to Pleasanton(Alameda County) I am not longer in Stockton (San Joaquin County) can you please help me I already updated my Profile in my SS Account; my name is Ligia Estrella McKinney, I clicked everywhere until I saw your “leave a reply” I need some direction. TKYU for taking the time to read this comment

    • A.C.

      Hi, Ligia. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community work with our offices with specific questions. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. Generally, you will have a shorter wait if you call later in the day. You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.

  2. Sharon A.

    I need a copy of the raised amounts due to cola in monthly amounts for next 5 years for my deceased spouse Howard mark main. I have old one from 2 yrs ago but now that raised in min. wage approved to 15 dollars an hour in that time, i need to see how the widows when i choose to collect it, what yearly collect rates would be for the 5 yrs.

    • A.C.

      Hi, Sharon. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community work with our offices with specific questions. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. Generally, you will have a shorter wait if you call later in the day. You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.

  3. Marysue B.

    Is the COLA notice the same thing as Form #SSA-4926-SM)

    • A.C.

      Hi, Marysue. If there is a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), a form SSA-4926 is mailed to current beneficiaries to describe the effect of the COLA. For more information about the COLA, visit here. Thanks!

  4. Rikelman

    Why are we receiving COLA 2019 notices in 2019?

  5. donald e.

    can not get into my s/s account, have new email do not know old email i am 74 please help thank you donald

    • A.C.

      Hi, Donald. For your security, we do not have access to private information in the venue. If you are still unable to access an account or encounter a problem with your personal my Social Security account, you may:
      •Call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. At the voice prompt, say “helpdesk”; or
      •Contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.

  6. Alma A.

    I want to know why my social security check is less this month?

    • A.C.

      Hi, Alma. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community work with our offices with specific questions. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. Generally, you will have a shorter wait if you call later in the day. You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.

  7. Petro S.

    How to receive notice about SSI?

  8. Patricia L.

    I received a call yesterday, July 18, 2019, saying that “Social Security has suspended my number because they found some suspicious activity”. When I tried to return the call to the number that had called me, it wasn’t a working number, and it was from some other company, not The Social Security Administration.

    • L.A.

      Hi Patricia. Thanks for checking in with us. We do not usually make random calls. If anyone receives calls saying that they are from Social Security, do not give out any personal information. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams here. If you suspect someone is using your Social Security number, you should go to http://www.idtheft.gov and report the theft to the Federal Trade Commission or call 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338). We hope this helps.

  9. James P.

    I am 63 and receiving a statement annually.Does my statement include the cola or is it calculated when I retire?

  10. Despo T.

    I received a notification (I believe in an email), from ssa, a couple of days ago. Today I tried to reply to ssa by computer, but unfortunately, I must have typed something incorrectly because I was then booted off the site! I will call on Monday, May 27th, so I can actually speak to a live person about the notification I received.

    Thank you very much,

    Despo Tatasciore
    *** – ** – *** ssa number
    610-842-7959 mobile number

Comments are closed.