COLA

Social Security Benefits Increase in 2020

October 10, 2019 • By

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Last Updated: October 10, 2019

When we announce the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), there’s usually an increase in the Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit amount. Federal benefit rates increase when the cost of living rises, as measured by the Department of Labor’s Consumer Price Index (CPI-W).

The CPI-W rises when inflation increases, it makes your cost of living go up. This change means prices for goods and services, on average, are a little more expensive, so the COLA helps to offset these costs.

As a result, nearly 69 million Americans will see a 1.6 percent increase in their Social Security and SSI benefits in 2020.

January 2020 marks other changes that will happen based on the increase in the national average wage index. For example, the maximum amount of earnings subject to Social Security payroll tax. The retirement earnings test exempt amount, will also change in 2020.

Want to know your new benefit amount as soon as possible? In December 2019, we will post Social Security COLA notices online for retirement, survivors, and disability beneficiaries who have a my Social Security account. You will be able to view and save these COLA notices securely via the Message Center inside my Social Security.  You can also opt out of receiving notices by mail that are available online.

Be the first to know! Sign up for or log in to your personal my Social Security account today. Choose email or text under “Message Center Preferences” to receive courtesy notifications. This way you won’t miss your online COLA notice!

You can find more information about the 2020 COLA here.

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About the Author

Darlynda Bogle, Assistant Deputy Commissioner

Darlynda Bogle, Assistant Deputy Commissioner

Comments

  1. Janis H.

    My COLA is $9.00 a month. $108.00 a year. Not quite sure what expenses that will offset.
    It is more like a slap in the face.

  2. james l.

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  3. Ruth G.

    When will I receive a paper copy of 2020 new Benefit amount?

    • A.C.

      Hi, Ruth. If you still need a benefit verification letter, you can view, print, and save your benefit verification letter by creating a personal my Social Security account online. We hope this helps.

  4. Carolyn B.

    When is the latest that we should receive the notice of increase? For I still have not received mine. Where most of the people in my apartment complex has gotten theirs.

    • A.C.

      Hi, Carolyn. If you still need a benefit verification letter, you can view, print, and save your benefit verification letter by creating a personal my Social Security account online. We hope this helps.

  5. Alvin R.

    is there a increase cola for 2020?

  6. Harry D.

    I receive 1,566 from social security,they sent a notice,January 2020, I would receive,1,585 then I get another notice I ‘ll only get 1,553,that a decrease,not an increase,what’s going on!

  7. John W.

    So, we are going to get a 1.6% increase….thank you! Oh, and for the record my increase is $21.00 , however my wife’s benefit decreased by $7.70 per month……bottom line, the increase for cost of living, actually has taken away $92.40 per year from us. Hard to figure how we get and increase that ends up less……new government math, I guess!

  8. david c.

    i figured my increase due to cost of living increase by1.6. It came up more than the amount on they gave me. Is there anyway to have cost of living rechecked by s.s. administration..

    • Richard B.

      I noticed the same thing that David claws did. The 1.6% raise on the gross amount is not really 1.6%. Why the discrepancy? I looked back at the last couple of years and noticed the same thing. The difference for 2020 is only .57 a month. If your increase is less every year than you were told it adds up to some real money over twenty years of drawing benefits. If it is not a full 1.6% then tell us. Some people still believe if you are told 1.6% then that is what it should be.

  9. Harry C.

    I have received 2 different benifit for the month, please give me the corrected amount ,I have changed my Medicare Advantage plan ,not needing to pay out an extra $20. a month. My wife has a different amount taken out of hers for Medicare . I was shown $147.70 and hers was. $144.00 please explain .

    • A.C.

      Hi, Harry. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community work with our offices with specific questions. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. Generally, you will have a shorter wait if you call later in the day. You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.

  10. Michael T.

    This so-called raise ended up costing me Money! After the raise I am getting less than before the raise! This is the way they are going to put money back into the fund! After all the increases I lost money, getting less!

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