Social Security Benefits Increase in 2019
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: November 3, 2023
Each year we announce the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). Usually, there is an increase in the Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit amount people receive each month, starting the following January. Law requires that federal benefit rates increase when the cost of living rises, as measured by the Department of Labor’s Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).
The CPI-W rises when prices increase for the things the average consumer buys. This means that when prices for goods and services we purchase become more expensive, on average, the COLA increases benefits and helps beneficiaries keep up with the changing cost of living.
More than 67 million Americans will see a 2.8 percent increase in their Social Security and SSI benefits in 2019.
This month marks other changes based on the increase in the national average wage index. For example, the maximum amount of earnings subject to Social Security payroll tax will increase to $132,900 in 2019. The retirement earnings test exempt amount will also increase.
Want to know your new benefit amount? In December 2018, we posted Social Security COLA notices online for retirement, survivors, and disability beneficiaries who have a my Social Security account. You can view and save these COLA notices securely via the Message Center inside my Social Security.
Next year, be the first to know! Sign up for or log in to your personal my Social Security account. Choose email or text under “Message Center Preferences” to receive courtesy notifications so you won’t miss your electronic COLA notice!
This year, even if you accessed your COLA notice online, you still received your COLA notice by mail. In the future, you will be able to choose whether you receive your 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.
Check our website for more information about the 2019 COLA. You can also read our publication Cost-of-Living Adjustment.
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Tags: Cost of living adjustment
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Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
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Alan L.
My DOB is 05/12/1992 and i am asking what will be my overall pay for my ssi check
Ieshia H.
Will anybody gonna receive anthing in February or before February formally know as ssi
Adhitya N.
More information about the 2019 COLA.
Adhitya Nugraha Novianta
Gerold S.
It is impossible to find the 2019 annuity payment schedule (calendar).
Do not disseminate my email address.
Irene L.
I live in Puerto Rico and my age is 74 I have received the same amount of my Social Security Checks since the year 2007 . I yet to receive an increase in my amount why is this?
A.C.
Hi, Irene. Thanks for your question. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask members of our Blog community to work with their local Social Security office for specific questions about their case. You can also call us toll-free at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. Generally, you will have a shorter wait if you call later in the day. We hope this helps.
Sharon K.
I only got $1.50 more deposited in my account for social security for 2019. I thought we were getting a 3% raise??? Please check my account.
Thank you.
Sherry Nations
solivera.nations@gmail
530-356-2810
A.C.
Hi, Sharon. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask members in our Blog community to work with their local Social Security office with specific questions about their case. You can also call us toll-free at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Generally, you will have a shorter wait time if you call later in the week. Just a reminder – please be cautious about posting personal information on social media. We hope this helps.
Denise P.
What is the latest date in January 2019 can I sign up for part B Medicare? I already have part A and now I wish to get part B! I know the month,January, is the sign up date but when does the deadline end? Thank you
A.C.
Hi, Denise. The General Enrollment Period (GEP) for Medicare Part B is January 1-March 31. Coverage would begin July 1. Most people who sign up for Part B during the GEP will have a 10 percent increase in monthly premiums for each 12-month period they did not enroll, but were eligible. However, if you are still working and covered under a group health plan based on that employment, you may not need to file for Medicare part B until you stop working or drop your health care coverage. For specific questions about your case, you can call 1-800-772-1213, Monday-Friday between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. and ask a representative to assist you, or you can contact your local office. Thanks!
Kathy B.
my mom lives in a nursing home i received her social security benefits notice but lost it how can i get a replacement sent out me because i need it to send to the nursing home so they can adjust her bill
V.V.
Hi Kathy. Because of privacy and security concerns, you will not be able to conduct Social Security business on behalf of your mother unless you are her representative payee. Having a power of attorney, being an authorized representative, or having a joint bank account with your mother does not authorize you to access information on her Social Security record. If your mother does not have a representative payee and she is not capable of managing and directing her Social Security benefits, someone should consider applying to be her payee. To learn more about becoming a representative payee, you can read our publication, “A Guide for Representative Payees” or visit our Representative Payee webpage. You can also call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to request an appointment.
If your mother is capable of managing and directing her benefits and has a my Social Security account, she can obtain a copy of the COLA notice in the Message Center of her my Social Security account. If she doesn’t have an account or is unable to create one, she can call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Daphne G.
1/8/19 Greetings from El Cajon, California,
I am a citizen who visited the El Cajon Social Security Office to inquire about my COLA changes for 2019. While waiting in line for service, I noticed two ways the office could improve: 1) update the SSTV channel to include more accurate information. The screen flashes Now Serving numbers, but does a superficial job of publicizing weather, science and health news. 2) If the SSA values privacy, government employees should be trained not to call out client names, because this is a breach of confidentiality, especially in a healthcare setting. I had a ticket number upon entering, but the worker who first spoke to me took the ticket number and told me to wait about an hour for my name to be called again to address my COLA change request. If I were him, I would have immediately printed the information for the client, rather than waste an hour of time for a second worker to do the same thing. This was a very inefficient use of my time. I do understand that this visit was during the federal government shutdown, but the shortfalls in the Social Security budget may be due to mismanagement more than insufficient funds. Honestly, Daphne Galang
A.C.
Thanks for your comments, Daphne. To submit feedback related to your experience, visit our Contact Social Security page. Once there, select the “Email Us” link. This will take you to the “Email a Question to our Support Team” form, where you can complete and submit a compliment, complaint, or suggestion. We hope this helps.
Loretta S.
Thank you,
I tried to call you on my phone and was dis-connected, I’m calling & texting about my increase 2.8%
My bank statement does not show an increase. My benefit letter states I would receive that increase amount on January 3, 2019 please let me know if my increase went through and will I receive it?
Please call me or mail me
210-386-3122
Loretswiess@yahoo.com
A.C.
Hi, Loretta. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask members in our Blog community to continue to work with their local office with specific questions about their case. You can also call us toll-free at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. Just a reminder – please be cautious about posting personal information on social media. We hope this is resolved soon.