Social Security Announces 2.5 Percent Benefit Increase for 2025
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: October 10, 2024
Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments for more than 72.5 million Americans will increase 2.5% in 2025, the Social Security Administration announced today. On average, Social Security retirement benefits will increase by about $50 per month starting in January.
Over the last decade the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increase has averaged about 2.6%. The COLA was 3.2% in 2024.
Nearly 68 million Social Security beneficiaries will see a 2.5% COLA beginning in January 2025. Increased payments to nearly 7.5 million people receiving SSI will begin on December 31, 2024. (Note: Some people receive both Social Security benefits and SSI).
“Social Security benefits and SSI payments will increase in 2025, helping tens of millions of people keep up with expenses even as inflation has started to cool,” said Martin O’Malley, Commissioner of Social Security.
Some other adjustments that take effect in January of each year are based on the increase in average wages. Based on that increase, the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) is slated to increase to $176,100 from $168,600.
Social Security begins notifying people about their new benefit amount by mail starting in early December.
This year, for the first time, Social Security beneficiaries will receive a newly designed and improved COLA notice that makes it easier for customers to find the information they need most. The simplified COLA notice is now only one page, uses plain and personalized language, and provides exact dates and dollar amounts of a person’s new benefit amount and any deductions. Learn more on our video.
Individuals who have a personal my Social Security account can view their COLA notice online, which is secure, easy, and faster than receiving a letter in the mail. People can set up text or email alerts when there is a new message–such as their COLA notice–waiting for them in my Social Security.
People will need to have a personal my Social Security account by Nov. 20 to see their COLA notice online. To get started, visit www.ssa.gov/myaccount.
Information about Medicare changes for 2025 will be available at www.medicare.gov. For Social Security beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare, the 2025 benefit amount will be available via my Social Security’s Message Center starting in late November. Those who have not opted to receive messages online will receive their COLA notice by mail in December.
The Social Security Act provides for how the COLA is calculated. The Social Security Act ties the annual COLA to the increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) as determined by the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.
To read more, please visit www.ssa.gov/cola.
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Tom P.
Here are the increases we received under the Trump administration.
2017 – 0.3%
2018 – 2%
2019 – 2.8%
2020 – 1.6%
2021 – 1.3%
Since Trump left office
2022 – 5.9%
2023 – 8.7%
2024 – 3.2%
Scot B.
According to my records and I’ve been on disability since 2015. The numbers are wrong under Trump and wrong under Biden. Biden’s biggest increase was 7%. Maybe 7.2 but never 8%. At least that’s what my paperwork shows. Have a great weekend. I’m hoping Medicare decides to lower the amount they take out monthly this year because the cost of living adjustment is not correct and won’t be correct for about 6 months until Trump gets it turned around. So we will be suffering the high gas prices. The high food prices with maybe $25 more and less Medicare drops the amount they keep out of the checks we get. It’s sad. That the illegals are getting more than us.
Tom P.
Do your research – These numbers are correct.
COLA increases are available to look up.
SUSAN W.
Got your numbers from msm I’m sure!
You can not dismiss his own records.
Connie M.
What items are used to figure out what the COLA will be? Does it take the inflation rate in to consideration?
Connie M.
I am still asking what things are considering in determining what the COLA will be. What is so difficult in telling me that.
S.S.
Hi Connie. Thank you for reading our blog. For information about COLA increases and how they are determined, please visit our Latest Cost-of-Living Adjustment page. We hope this helps.
Taylor
Yes,, We did not have inflation under Trump. You do know Biden/Harris have caused over 19% inflation,, which means the little bumbs in SS do not come near the inflation rate thay have caused. So, The pennies they have given,, mean zero
SUSAN W.
YEP!
Rosemarie w.
So more people can live a better life Not only the very wealthy
Helen
We need a raise that matches the high cost of living since it is our money! The democrats r using our money for their own agenda and need to return it and if one single illegal gets one penny of our money, that is stealing! Vote red because democrats have ruined our country with their ignorance!🙏❤️🇺🇸
Vicki
You hit the nail on the head
Pamela M.
Smh pay attention move to the front of the class so you can See and hear bcuz I think I heard something differently .He’s broke so we’re did the ppl money go ?
Ro w.
You have to be kidding. Open your. Eyes. Do some research.
Linda
I only get $26.00 increase? How much is Medicare going up to take that $25.00?
This is why I’m still working at 75…to be able to live…not just survive.
Make our elective representatives try to live on this. I don’t have a $6,000 refrigerator in my home.
Shelly B.
Remember old Donnie boy said social security was a Ponzi scheme and he wants to get rid of it.
George Z.
Remember that Donnie Boy will privatize Medicare (as well), and the cost will rocket! (great business for farma’s friends) Retirees need to be very objective about what they ask for, vote careful!.
Jeff F.
It works similar to a Ponzi scheme whereas the ultimate plan is to replace it over time such as with an employer funded / matching 401(k) so your contributions won’t be going to someone else, but will be invested for you and available when you retire. This is better than today where your SS retirement benefit is dependent upon others who are working as it will be underfunded in the future simply because of not enough money being paid in.
Karen
What if the investment goes down?
Thomas M.
Thank You Democrats for giving me 2.5% of my own money. By the way. I’m paying over 25-35 % for necessities than I did before you dopes got in. Have a nice day
George Z.
Remember that Donnie Boy will privatize Medicare (as well), and the cost will rocket %! (great business for farma’s friends) Retirees need to be very objective about what they ask for, vote careful!.
Tom F.
You would have the option/choice whether you want to privatize your social security account or stay with the current system. I prefer having the choice. The government has a history of mucking up everything they touch. Social Security is a prime example. Same goes for school choice. Let the people decide where they send their children for education instead of forcing them (low to middle income families) to attend failing Government Schools. Competition will improve all. Make America Great Again!
SUSAN W.
MAGA
Alan S.
Overall, the prices we’re paying for groceries, goods, gasoline, and energy, have increased by at least 26% since 2019. Those of us retirees that rely on our Social Security income to survive, not live, but survive, have been screwed by Democrat policies. Under the previous administration, we could afford to live comfortably with our Social Security Benefits. The 2025 COLA increase is a sick joke at 2.5%. Our dimwitted President has destroyed life as we knew it. I sincerely hope that our next President is the MAN with the PLAN. Not the woman that is clueless that can only laugh and grin, while all the retirees will be trashed into a bin. Let’s prove to the world that at least 51% of Americans aren’t stupid.
I w.
I totally agree and they think that $50.00 a month will help us make ends meet while they’re still making money hand over fist off money that they should not be making off the backs off the hard working people who work more than two jobs and still have just enough to get by and they think they have done us a favor so darn funny
Unc
And they giving illegals our money that we payed for years. Vote Trump and stop this bulls!!t.
SUSAN W.
VOTED TRUMP ALREADY!
Charles R.
I completely agree with the above contributor. I am now 80 years old , served in Vietnam, didn’t get wounded, had low income all of my life.
So, I guess I do not have long to live. Thank God, I get medical attention or I couldn’t make it.
Joe B.
You got that right, kumhalla is ignorance
Tom P.
So Trump was President from 2017 to 2021
Here are the increases we got under his leadership:
2017 – 0.3%
2018 – 2%
2019 – 2.8%
2020 – 1.6%
2021 – 1.3%
And you believe he will make life better for those of us on Social Security? Think againn.
Bobby B.
The increases didn’t need to be huge because everything was so much cheaper. 😃
Diana
This is a cost of living increase. Look at the cost of living increases in the Biden admin. They were a lot higher because the cost of living skyrocketed. That should tell you something.
Jonathan M.
You said that prices have been rising since 2019 and you place all the blame on democrats?? High prices started under Trump and Biden had to go in and work an uphill battle to get the economy back on track!! Inflation is down but prices are still high because of corruption in corporations because of their greed!! They want the tax cuts that trump gives them!! But the bad news is that if trump wins he is going to obliterate the economy with his tariffs on everything imported which will skyrocket EVERYTHING!!!
Pamela M.
I’m in a red state Oklahoma and from we’re I sit this state need help for the ppl but the Republicans want get help for there ppl the governor is letting companies contaminated the drinking water yea u rt vote red and we all are dead
Diane G.
And I forgot to say live on 1600 a month my lighter it’s going to be a thousand I still got insurance so I might be here I still got internet so I can talk on my telephone I got phone payment I don’t have no money I had two hip replacements had back surgery had wrist surgery because hip locked up and I fell now I have breast cancer and you want me to live on $1,600 a month no I’m going to lose my phone because I can’t pay lot rent I don’t understand how y’all think we can live I like to know how much y’all live cuz this is just great give our money away and we’re not being able to live I worked all my life I live with my grandmother she had crippling arthritis when I was 12 years old I didn’t go to school to learn I went to school to learn how what I’m going to feed her when I got home now I’m living the same life I can’t work can’t make money it’s 1600 don’t go nowhere America’s f***
Carmen C.
We need to pay high increase of rent, and everytime the Social security get a little increase the rent, goes like 30% higher. So the 2.5 doesn’t help for apartment living. Housing is not available, since alot of people are almost homeless!. Not many Seniors have big Checks to survive!..
Diane G.
I get 1,600 a month my lot rent is going to go up to thousand I still got the truck insurance I still got a telephone I still got internet so I can talk on my telephone where is my money going I’m going to lose everything I’ve got because somebody wants to give our money away and I can’t get no help 67 years old and and you think the economy is good I like to know what they live on
Dawn
This is why I don’t vote because when they’re trying to get elected they tell you what you want to hear but when they get in office they don’t do nothing all they are is for themselves they’re not for the low class or the middle class it’s all about them that’s why they need your vote and then when they do get in they mess up the country anyway because they want to do what they want to do increase prices all this other stuff take the woman’s rights away all they do is worry about their family and nobody else’s
Dawn
Why did I get a “small” one time pymt this month before my regular check?
Bridgett
Maybe something owed to you and it’s an Adjustment I’m wondering the same here
Leonard R.
Once again the government department doing the calculations pulls the wool over senior’s eyes. The imaginary basher of goods used to determine the percentage of the increase must be TOP SECRET because it is never disclosed.
I WANT proof of this system. I also want those doing the calculations to open their eyes to the news, as to how much certain union workers are getting per hour ($5.00 per hour × 40 hours = $200.00 per week, or $800.00 per month). Yet the government asks seniors to be happy with $50.00 per month MINUS the increased amount of Medicare,eaving a whopping $40.00. So what one item do I buy each week?
Kathy t.
Yes they neglected to mention that your Medicare is going up approximately 10.00, which in most cases comes out of your social security check. So the 50.00 a month increase isn’t true, you’ll be lucky if it will buy a tank of gas or pay any utility bills. My electric this month was 450.00, convince me how this increase is going to help me. What a joke, give me the 750.00 a month that the illegals are receiving who haven’t paid in anything!!
Paula P.
Indeed, not fair to Americans.