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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Dale O.
have not received my 2019 COLA notice by mail yet.
Lat 4 disits 9572
R.F.
Hello Dale. Beneficiaries will receive their COLA notices by mail later this year, during the month of December. Also, Social Security COLA notices will be available online to most beneficiaries in the Message Center of their my Social Security. Click here for more information. Thanks!
Hannah E.
I have been locked out of my security account. Apparently either my user name or password is incorrect. They tell me to contact them. Cannot get through.
R.F.
Hello Hannah. If you are unable to create an account or encounter a problem with your my Social Security 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. Thanks!
Aubrey M.
What will be the monthly cost for Medicare insurance in 2019?
V.V.
Hello Aubrey. Information about Medicare changes for 2019, when announced, will be available at http://www.medicare.gov.
James C.
If a person retires with an effective month of October, 2018 (first check in November), is that person subject to a prorated 2019 COLA? I know this applies to CSRS retirement benefits, but I cannot find any reference on the ssa website with respect to the ss COLA being prorated.
V.V.
Hi James, thanks for using the blog to ask your question. All monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for more than 67 million Americans will increase 2.8 percent in 2019.
The 2.8 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to more than 62 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2019. Increased payments to more than 8 million SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 31, 2018. (Note: some people receive both Social Security and SSI benefits.)
For more details, check out our Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Information web page.
Carol
A friend will be receiving US social security in the UK. She is a US citizen. She was told that she will not get COLA while living abroad. Doesn’t sound correct. Can anyone verify this?
V.V.
Hi Carol: Everyone receiving a Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit, more than 67 million, will receive an increase of 2.8 percent in 2019. See our publication “Your Payments While You Are Outside the United States” for more information on payments while living abroad.
Marilyn J.
So notice of 2019 COLA not available until December 2018, correct?
K.O.
Hello Marilyn. You are correct! Social Security COLA notices will be available online to most beneficiaries in the Message Center of their my Social Security account in December 2018. Although you will still receive your COLA notice by mail this year, however, in the future you will be able to choose whether you receive your notice online instead of on paper.
For more on Social Security Cost-of-Living adjustment for 2019, click HERE. Thanks!
Tom B.
Unable to access COLA Notice for 2019
gary d.
mail notices what month
gary d.
when will they be mail out notices of cola
charley p.
want to sign up fore cola notices program wont let me sign on