New Online Social Security COLA Notices
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: November 3, 2023
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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Tags: Cost of living adjustment, my Social Security, my Social Security account
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Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
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Terry C.
I think it is a waste of time and labor to send notices to eligible Recipients with out knowing the Percentage of the COLA.
That’s the most important part of the COLA anyway.
Mandy S.
How can I change my tax deduction coming from my SS check?
Amanda T.
I need to reduce the federal tax being withheld from my SS check. Please advise how I can do this.
V.V.
Thank you for your question, Amanda. If you are already receiving benefits and you want to change your withholding, you’ll need a Form W-4V from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). You can download the form or call the IRS toll-free at 1-800-829-3676 and ask for Form W-4V. When you complete the form, you can choose to have 7, 10, 12, or 22 percent of your monthly benefit withheld for taxes.
See our Benefits Planner: Withholding Income Tax From Your Social Security Benefits for more information.
ralphcoble
need to know cola for 2019
R.F.
If you’re referring to the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2019, we will know that information later this month, when the increase in the Consumer Price Index as determined by the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics is announced. As always, we will keep you informed. Thanks!
Richard S.
Accordingly to the Department of Labor statistic document they had emailed that in 2010 & 2011 they had informed me that gas prices had increased
Randy P.
A cola increase just upsets me everytime it comes up. Congress is laughing at us because they have removed several things that would bring the cost of living index up to were it should be. They give it to us here and take it somewhere else like medicare or my food stamps all the while they are voting themselves outrages raises for them. It just really upsets me that they think they are smart and we are stupid. Thank you for letting me vent here. Randy
Carol
Will we have a Social Security raise this year that will not be eaten up by Medicare?
V.V.
Hello Carol, The Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2019 should be announced in late October. As always, we will keep you informed. Thanks!
Anna C.
Please have someone call me. I tried to log onto my social security account and received message that said code # sent to me at #4105047440. My phone number is 817/999-2616.
Next, I entered my ss# *** – ** – ***, and that brought up a claimant name: Kyle Andrew Bellows.
By the way, I have not received an increase in annuity as others did last January. Is there a reason of which I should be informed?
Thank you,
Anna C. Taylor
*** – ** – ***
Ph #: 817/999-2616
V.V.
Hi Anna: We certainly do apologize for the difficulties you are having with your personal my Social Security account. We have referred your case to our Systems Team.
For assistance with your account, you may:
•Call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. At the voice prompt, say “helpdesk”; or
•Contact your local Social Security office.
As for your inquiry regarding not receiving an increase in your benefit, it may be because of Medicare. For some beneficiaries, their Social Security increase may be partially or completely offset by increases in Medicare premiums. The Social Security Act contains a “hold harmless” provision that protects most beneficiaries. The amount of the benefit will stay the same even though the Medicare Part B premium increases.
Leo P.
How much will my social security go up?
V.V.
Hello Leo. We will know that information in late October, when the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2019 is announced.
As always, we will keep you informed. Thanks!
Patricia A.
This Mr that I will not see a Social Security increase. It will go to Medicare. My Medicare will go up.
Robert T.
Sorry
I am a US citizen with a foreign mailing address. I feel I have the most need for internet communication.
Mail to me is always slow, I often receive requests for replies after the reply deadline has passed..
In addition to slowness there is a problem with reliability. I do not feel able to estimate a failure rate but failures do occure regularly.
Wrt security my experience with internet banking is essential to me. I have never experienced a problem. I have many years experienced with internet banking.
The rule that I can only update my mailing address by mail or fone (expensive) makes no sense to me.
I hope my comments will help.you.
Regards
Robert Thurston Monrad
V.V.
We are sorry for the inconvenience, Robert. The “my Social Security” authentication system requires address verification as one of the essential criteria for issuing an account. People with APO/FPO/DPO addresses can create an account overseas, but our system does not support registration and account creation for users with a foreign address yet. We recommend that individuals living outside the United States contact their nearest Federal Benefits Unit.
Also, our Office of International Operations (OIO) home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad. We hope this information helps!