COLA, SSI

No Cost-of-Living Adjustment for 2016

October 15, 2015 • By

Reading Time: 1 Minute

Last Updated: March 17, 2021

pink piggy bank Social Security’s annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is an increase in the benefit amount people receive each month. By law, the monthly Social Security and SSI federal benefit rate increases when there is a rise in the cost of living. The government measures changes in the cost of living through the Department of Labor’s Consumer Price Index (CPI-W).

The CPI has not risen since the last cost-of-living adjustment in 2015. As a result, your SSI benefit rate and, for most people, your Social Security benefit amount will stay the same in 2016.

This news isn’t necessarily bad. When inflation stays at the same rate, your cost of living also stays the same. Prices for goods and services, on average, haven’t increased enough to affect the COLA.

Other changes that would normally take effect based on changes in the national average wage index also won’t begin in January 2016. Since there is no COLA, the statute also prohibits a change in the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax, as well as the retirement earnings test exempt amounts. These amounts will remain unchanged in 2016. The new fact sheet provides more information on 2016 Social Security and SSI changes.

For additional information about the 2016 COLA, go to www.socialsecurity.gov/cola.

For additional information about changes in the national average wage index, go to www.socialsecurity.gov/OACT/COLA/AWI.html.

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About the Author

Jim Borland, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Communications

Jim Borland, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Communications

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Comments

  1. lisa

    I agree with all the comments, not to mention eggs are $6.00 a dozen. So if gas increases during the year are we going to get an increase in June. Gas is not everything, everything else increased. Allot of seniors don’t drive so why do they base the COLA on gas total b*******!

    • Bill

      The cost of gas increases the cost of all goods sold (everything), but when the price at the pumps goes down, all prices remain the same or even increases. Another thing, when the minimum wage is increased, prices to the consumer is again increased; these minimum wage jobs are not intended to be a career, but s stepping stone for the youth! Democrats know that, they’re just pandering for votes!

      • Bill

        Another thing, just a couple of years ago SS recipients did not get a cola increase for 2 years and the cost of gasoline was much higher then. They manipulate the COLA formula in a way that there is no increase!

  2. Ron B.

    Start calling your local SS office and keep calling and complaining . Those that scream the loudest are heard the most. Look what is happening with all the illegals, they are on tv crying about how they are being treated in a country that they should not even be in and the government just gives in to them and let’s them stay and do what ever they want to and pays them to stay here. WRONG!!!!!!!!! The other writer said it is time for Trump and they are right. Elect another Dumbocrat and nothing will change. Elect Trump and he will clean out this corrupt government and the agencies that give our money away like its theirs . We worked our butts off for at least 62 years and it is ours. I bet everyone at SS gets a raise this year! Kick all those off disability that are getting it because they are to lazy to work. They let anyone have it if they say they can’t work. Get off your butt and find a job. We as seniors are tired of all this. We have had enough. We need to organize a million person march on Washington made up of the once hard working retired people of this country who had a work ethic that you don’t see today. I bet Trump would be there to support us. I bet he would even task someone to help get it organized . Enough said.

  3. Angelo R.

    I feel as if I am being punished for the low price of gas that I have used.. At Walmart the price of seven up has escalated 38% in the last year.. I receive VA health care and am charged $15.00 a doctor visit this year.. Last year it was free.. I live in a government (USDA) sponsored retirement housing project and just received notice that there will be a $10.00 increase in rent coming in January.. Even the cost of doing laundry has gone up 25% this year.. Eggs are another example of extreme price increase as well as hamburger now known as Angus burger.. It’s a damn good thing I live close to McDonalds, at least their prices have remained acceptable..
    By the way has congress ever paid back the “LOAN” that they forced Social Security to give them for that marvelous health care program computer??? Several millions of taxpayer dollars, yet but we hear NOTHING about it being repaid to SS..
    The seniors of this country need to be heard from in a loud and clear voice at the polls this year..
    Thanks for the vent…

  4. Larry

    Now that’s a shame and a slap in the face. Just like minimum wage, the system will keep you poor or working until you die and even than, will try and take whatever there’s left behind. The system is broke and in need of maintenance and repair.

  5. Al C.

    Don’t you understand? Our benefits can’t go up because of all the money that is being spent on illegals. They get housing, food, medical care. Why is it that you never hear about not being able to afford paying illegals?

    • jrgeddes

      It has NOTHING to do with illegals. It is the present (and longstanding) law, unfortunate though it may be.

      • Bill

        It has everything to do with progressive liberal flippant spending!!!

    • sandra

      Don’t forget the $500 + BILLION that obama demands for planned parenthood so they can continue murdering live human babies!

      • Bill

        Amen! Thanks for pointing this out!!!!!!!

  6. John

    Can’t give COLA increase to retiree, but the Federal Government Agencies can waste money hand over fist. Send money to foreign countries, give money to people for not working laying on their buts.

    • Bill

      And federal employees have a retirement envied by all!!!

    • Julie

      And why is it that we ALWAYS have money to send foreign countries for whatever reason deemed necessary by our government? BILLIONS in assistance for catastrophes (I don’t mind helping, but not that much, when we need it so badly here at home) and medical aid, etc.

      Yet, our own people can’t get the help necessary to eat and get proper shelter, put clothes on their family and get medical help. This is tragically upside down!

  7. dancopacabanas

    Everything has gone up. I took a policy aside from
    UnitedHealthCare to supplement my deductibles and out of
    pocket expenses which its outrages, and I get injections
    in my back that cost $3,000.00 and I was paying 20% of
    that at least once every 7 weeks. I was just advised that
    the price of that coverage will go up from $75.00 to $150.00
    per month and on top of that they are canceling the prescription override that was $50.00 per month.
    Try paying 20% of my injections in my back $300.00
    every 6 to 7 weeks. Where am I going to get that on
    $1400.00 per month.

    • Bill

      I feel for ya!!!!!! Medical costs were terrible prior to Obamacare, now the cost are just unbearable. Obama was forced on us 100% by Democrats!!!!

      • Bill

        Correction…..Obamacare was forced on us 100% by Democrats!!!!

  8. Diana B.

    All of the above comments are correct. So what are we going to do? I am going to call/write every single one of my Representatives and complain. I would ask you to do the same thing. If only one of us calls/writes to express our displeasure than they think we agree with them. We need a letter/call campaign. There are lots of us affective by this, many more then them. And tell them we are voters and will vote them out the very next chance we get. Vote, vote, vote!

  9. Steve K.

    It’s time for everone to start voting against career politicians. No matter what party you are registered to vote out the incumbents. The only time they know you is at election time. There should be limits just like the presidents. The longer they stay in office the more benifits we loose.

    • Bill

      I tend to agree with ya, but we need to get back to the principles our once great nation was founded on and stop handing out free things in order to increase their voting base; nothing is free!!! There’s one political party that takes these so-called free handouts to a whole new level!

  10. Jim P.

    The Congress will give themselves a raise with the money that should have went to SS. We the people need to control Congress by letting us vote for their raises and benefits, then and only then will we be able to control the Congress.

Comments are closed.