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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Oliver
By default everyone of all types of ss no matter the age , should be getting at least 8k a month because you need 4x the income to get into a apartment and most are 1.5k+ a month. they use this stuff to separate races and wealth gaps of ppl . 2.5 increase if nothing and i need a apartment bad i got no one to help . DO NOT REPLY TO ME SS ACCT WITH THAT POINTLESS ASISTANCE LIVING MESSAGE IN UR STATE. i called all the places in my state of louisiana and i even called all 3 senators mayors all that jeff landry , clay Higgins and the other one they all said the same stuff they are all republicant they only talk about helping old ppl that are about to die anyway and most ppl dont even live to be 65yr thats why they keep boosting the age or all this stuff . ill be so glad when i can find a way to leave this hell of a country and state . or even if ww3 pops off im helping the otherside know that.
James
I can fully agree to this
Micheal M.
Michael McDaniel
Mark.F
2.5% raise for SS ,what a joke who’s running the SS commission dems I bet. There they go again sticking it to us senior citizens. EVERY ONE NEEDS TO VOTE!
Joseph H.
Who do you think wants to get rid of ss not Dem..they want to replace with stock market they control
Shirley D.
I wonder how they can say inflation is slowing when everything keeps growing, especially groceries. average of $50 will not go far and then they will increase the amount deducted for Medicare insurance. Such a joke!
Tom
Congress keeps referring to SS as entitlement that they control. It’s not an entitlement, but a paid Benefit that was earned by the recipient. Congress needs to stop taking money from the SS account. You’ve already took 1.9 Trillion out of our account to spread it around like it was yours. News FLASH that’s not your money it’s ours. Embezzling from your constituents is a crime.
oliver
facts
Harold J.
I have to agree with you all the House and Senate members are only interested in how much they can get away with its time we elect people who care about the seniors instead of just looking out for themselves
Harold J.
I have to agree with you the congress is only interested in what they can get for themselves
deb
My social security is not a handout. They can pay me what I paid in with an average of 8% interest since I started working in 1968 at 14 then I can pay myself. I just want what I paid in returned. Either thru SS or a lump sum. It is my money.
Rene
I couldn’t agree with you more. I’ll take my lump sum now please. Forget about hanging onto the vague hope that my hard earned money will be rationed back to me in miniscule morsels at some point before I die. Complete BS. Trust me, I can manage my money much better than any government or “elected” official. Organized crime.
Lee
I’m still confused. What is the difference between SSI and SS benefits?
S.S.
Hi, Lee. Thanks for reading our blog and for your comments. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a needs-based program that makes payments to adults and children with disabilities who have limited income and resources. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits are based on a worker’s earnings. Our definition of disability is the same for both the SSI and SSDI programs – you must be unable to work because of a physical or mental condition that is expected to last at least 12 months or end in death. To learn about the differences between the two programs, visit our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.
David D.
They are denying me SSI with my SS RETIREMENT because I have a life insurance policy that I have been paying for since I was 50yrs old because it has a cash out value of three hundred dollars. So they count this as income,how is it income when I am still paying for it. They are not going to bury me and they only give my family 255.00. so my family is held accountable for the rest. I refuse to sell my policy when it’s wrong for the Government to declare what the value of the policy is only income when I sell it. This country is going to hell really fast and other people I know who never worked are getting SSI at the amount over nine hundred dollars and I am only getting 880.00 and have to pay rent, electric,gas and necessities. Mean while they live in subsidized housing gas and electricity and Central A/C included. Maybe I should give up my home go into the shelter system and get all amenities that they get. Something is so wrong with the minds of the Senate and Congress that they treat the hard working people who paid for Social Security and now it’s used for others instead of the Seniors
Vicki
Why cant. They put. My. Ssi. Payments back. On. My. Direct express card. They. Made. A mess. Up. In. Feb. Of. March. Of. 2024. Every month since ive. Been. Going. To. That. Local. Office. And. Calling. Direct. Express. But. All im. Getting nothing. But. Lies saying. Month…..aint. happen. Yet… whars. So. Very. Hard. About. That.. ive. Got. A new. Card. And. All..still. no. Help. Will. You. Help. Me. Please.. direct. Express. Says. It. Only. Takes. Days. So. Why. Its. Been. A. Year. Almost…..
Veron F.
Seriously 2.5%. That doesn’t even keep up with inflation that has been caused by the current administration. Illegal immigrants get more from the government than the citizens of the United States. You want change……..VOTE in the upcoming election!!!!
J. J.
That’s right! I’m going to put it right out there! I only get $943 from SSI Disability, fully disabled no work at all. Then I get $240 SNAP (fancy food stamps). $943 to pay ALL my bills, rent, water, electric, phone, internet, gas, gasoline, co-pays, medication co-pays, & household items such as cleaning products for the kitchen (dish soap, bleach, & mopping soap), for the bathroom toiletries toothpaste, sink soap, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, deodorants, cologne & toilet paper, not to mention the cleaning products for the bathroom, laundry room laundry soap, fabric softener, dryer sheets, & you have to be able to buy new clothes every once in a while!
oliver
they wont understand until we unite and start warring with these mfs they think jan6 was something let them keep this up.
Martha V.
100% agree!
Marie
Exactly! A 2.5% increase is nothing but $25 to me. What can I do extra with that pidly amount in today’s inflation? Government steals from us while we get stipends. It’s our own money. We should be able to draw every penny of it upon retirement or disability. A monthly stipend is an insult!
Franklyn
Vote for Kamala in 2024, then for Harris in 2028
Mary E.
I just got switched to my dad’s survivors benefits. I was sent two letters that I got approved. One letter (10 pages long) said they were gonna stop paying me the ssi $943 because I would be getting his survivors benefits (75% of it because Im his daughter whos disabled). However my 2nd letter (2 pages) said I would be getting paid on the 3rd wednesday each month these survivors, BUT when I looked online on my account it said Id get paid 3rd of each month. Turns out I did get paid the 3rd of October. So I guess the letter I got that said Id get paid the 3rd wednesday was wrong. I did end up getting paid my last ssi $943 on Oct. 1st because they said it was too late when they mailed me the letter to turn off the ssi. The letter said I wouldnt get $943 in November which makes sense. We’ll see what happens. Its all confusing. I also havent recieved my backpay yet.
S.S.
Hi Mary, thank you for using our blog. For security reasons, we do not have access to personal information in this venue. It may be best for you to visit your local Social Security office to discuss your benefits and underpayment. Hope this helps!
Taylor
If you want to get more with the little you get from SS, Stop inflation. vote D ems out.
Rich K.
You will be voting against your own interests if you “vote the Dems out”. Clearly,the Republican agenda is to eliminate SSI (and Medicare) by depleting government revenue by tax cuts and giving it to millionaires.
When the money runs out the Repubs will throw their hands up and say “We don’t have the money to pay SSI anymore” Then where will you be?
THOMAS
2.5% IS A SLAP TO THE FACE. 50 DOLLARS DONT HELP NOBODY. IF CONGRESS CAN GET THOUSENDS FOR A RAISE THE SHOULD GET A HIGHER RAISE. THE COMMISSIONER NEED TO BE FIRED ASAP AND GET SOMEBODY IN THERE THAT REALLY GIVE A SHIT ABOUT THE PEOPLE
Shawna
Martin O’Malley has done an AMAZING job as head of the SSA! He’s changed more policies that have helped low income beneficiaries than anyone before him (reduced clawbacks and changed the overpayment policy so folks only have to pay 10% of their check, removed the SSI rule for in kind support for food which added a third extra benefits to many peoples’ checks, simplified the SSI rental subsidy policy and so much more). He has NOTHING to do with the COLA amount, as that’s calculated by a completely different government branch.
Dave R.
We all make choices in life that eventually lead to your current circumstances . Stop relying on the government for any handouts , that lead to your dependency on government and the false promises they make to buy your vote.
Our country was founded on the freedoms we all have and the government should encourage self reliance not government handouts .
Vic
Social security is not a handout, period. If you ever worked in your life, you should know that. Check a pay stub.
Rivka R.
I did not CHOOSE to become disabled! And Social Security is NOT a “handout”! You sound like a trumpie. If so, go peddle your b.s. somewhere else!!!
SUSAN
I’m a TRUMPIE! I didn’t choose CANCER!!!
BLAME DEMONRATS FOR 2.5 PERCENT COLA AS WELL AS INFLATION AND THE ECONOMY, J/S..
You seem to be peddling the B.S.
J J.
I’m a PROUD President Trump supporter too fellow American & I receive my SSI disability payments monthly with my head held high! Well I mean as high as a man can that only gets $943 a month, but we all paid into that tax out of our paychecks. & NO Trump is not trying to stop SSI. He WANTS OUR tax dollars spent on US & NOT on other Countries or illegal immigrants!
Frani B.
how old are you?Did you ever work for 40 years giving 12% every paycheck which all boomers did so their parents could receive benefits from Social Security??? Now it is our turn but we will not benefit with so many “government employees”…Congress benefitting from Social Security and my boomer friends who worked in the government forever…now the double dip? the gig is up in 2034…one Senator had plan to fund Social Security forever…think they buried him….
Erin A.
GROSS
Robert M.
When you get your neck and back broken and need help because you’re a nasty person and I doubt people care much for you, you’ll be begging for help from your community because once your unable to stalk your family they’ll leave you in your wheelchair to be that ugly person you so obviously are!
Ken
Disability is not a life choice and the money is what I earned not a hand out.