No Cost-of-Living Adjustment for 2016
Reading Time: 1 MinuteLast Updated: March 17, 2021
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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Tags: Cost of living adjustment, Disability, Medicare, SSA, SSI
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Jim Borland, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Communications
Jim Borland, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Communications
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eric r.
lets see, can they live on 8 grand a year. im disabled and its damn hard.
Wilson
about 666 a month would be fitting for them.
billrye
As long as they don’t raise the premiums for my Medicare Insurance then it’s all right.
R.F.
The Department of Health and Human Services has not yet announced Medicare premium changes for 2016. Information about Medicare changes for 2016, when available, will be found at http://www.medicare.gov. Thanks!
Richard H.
SSA retirees should stifle themselves. It’s not the SSA, the Chinese, the illegal immigrants, Catholic Charities or Obama. It’s the voters who elect conservative representatives and senators; the politicians who limit FICA taxes and rush rally ’round any move to reduce taxes paid by corporate businesses and the one-percenters. Look at the voting statistics: the SSA retirees’ age-group (65 years and older) gave Romney 56% of their vote, which winning margin travelled down the ballot through congressional elections. The SSA retirees group (among which I number) made their bed and now must lie in it. Maybe when you vote next year you should wise up and consider your financial well-being, instead of buying the blather spewing from the Tea Party and other conservatives.
Paula
The older we get the less the government pays attention to us. It’s hard to afford anything now. With only SS as income how are we suppose to live? The government doesn’t care if people eat or pay their bills. The Uniited States no longer cares for any of the people who actually worked their whole lives. Everything has gone up in cost saying it hasn’t is a way to give money to those who come here illegal with their hands out. I hope they get a good home with the money I’ve been denied.
James V.
There is a real big problem with the CPI. They keep changing it so that it does not show the true inflation rate that is about 10%. Greenspan,to my knowledge, iwas the last one to change it because he said retirees were getting to high of an increase. This could have been fixed many times, but was not. Also, the last time this happened Obama gave all federal workers a 3% increase but ignored retirees. He can correct this for everyone by using his executive order authority. I am waiting to see what he will do this time. If he does the same thing congress should interfere
Wilson
Obuma wont do anything, he will leave it as a burden for his successor to be shafted with.
Aarone K.
The Cost of Living has gone up and what is called substantial gain activity is not correct. I was getting Social Security Income for Years that went towards my rent for Disability. I have high function autism and at my job I make $13 an hour with no promotional opportunities. I make between $1,601 to $1,605 a month and I pay between $1,488 to $1,589 in Rent and Basic Bills not counting food. So the Cost of Living should be adjusted to affect the current rent.
Depadilla
Please go out and VOTE those into office that will serve us the people! Yes it’s your chance to make a difference by Not being indifferent to who get into any public office…
Sharon
A couple of years ago, congress & the Senate gave themselves a $125, 000. raise and passed a law that when they retire they will draw that yearly amount in Social Security. Who do you know that draws that much. The economy was already bad when they passed it as law. Lets vote these crooks out and start all over. They have been in to long and care only about themselves.
bobby
The government need to be governed by the same laws as we are. They need to donate their pensions to SSI to replace the money they stole from our fund. They should not be exempt from laws that the average citizen has to abide by. I was not asked if I want to donate my SSI so the government can try to fix what they stole and screwed up. Term limits and no salary for the rest of their days on this earth. Let them live on SSI and abide by the same laws and standards that we have to.
emily
IF THE POLITICIANS HAD TO LIVE ON WHAT US HARD WORKING..TAX PAYING..LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THIS COUNTRY HAD TO . OUT COST OF LIVING WOULD BE THROUGH THE ROIF! GET THESE FOREIGNERS BACK ON BOAT.N GET EM OUT WE AMERICANS ARE SUFFERING BEHIND THEM! EVERY PRICE IS RAISED IN THIS COUNTRY BUT GAS…BECAUSEEEEEEEEE PEOPKE CANT AFFORD GO ANYWHERE. .SO THERES NOT THE HIGHER DEMAND FOR GAS….I STOPPED GOIN ANYWHERE…I STAY HOME..I WORK N STAY HOME..ITS PITIFUL THAT OUR PRESIDENT IS SUCH A PUSSY THAT HE LETS THIS STUPID PANEL OF (((“OMG ! SUCH EXPERTS– NOT LIVING IN REAL WORLD”!)))) MAKE DECISIONS AFFECTING THE “REAL TAXPAYING CITIZENS”! GOD I HATE POLITICS! TRUMP.—-HELP US! OBAMA BYE BYE .I VOTED FOR YU N NOW I REGRET IT..NOW DOES THE GOV’T GET IT….? WHY CRIME IS UP? PEOPLE GONNA KEEP STEALING N ROBBING….BECAUSE PEOPLE CANT AFFORD TO LIVE ANYMORE!!GOD HELP US!