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. Peggy C.

    can not find schedule for SS 2020

    • Ann C.

      Hi, Peggy. You can find the schedule of Social Security benefit payments calendar here. Thanks!

  2. matthew

    why did i only get like $3.00 extra dollars from this cola when in doubt it said cola increase to 1.6% which post to mean like $10.60 increase in ssi benefits not no $3.00 money extra
    it went from $310.72 to $312.72 money why is that ahyway?
    then automatically detuced like $20.00 from income
    it went from $641.00 down to $631.00 why is that once again?
    seriously honestly!?!

  3. Patricia H.

    I cannot sign into my account. Says I already have one, when I put in my information, says not able to find!

    • Ann C.

      Hi, Patricia. We are sorry to hear you have had difficulty accessing your personal my Social Security account. If you are still unable to access your account or encounter a problem with your personal my Social Security account, you may:
      •Call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. At the voice prompt, say “helpdesk”; or
      •Contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.

  4. Debra J.

    I paid for medicare premium in 2019 as I was not on social security. I paid my premium for Dec, 2019 through Feb 2020. Now I will begin to get social security as I turned 66 in December 2019 and will get first social security check in Jan 2020. Will I get a credit on the medicare premium already paid?

    • Luis A.

      Hi Debra. For your security, we do not have access to your personal information in this forum. For specific questions about your account, please call our toll free number, 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), from Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. You may also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.

  5. Chris B.

    would be nice to see a chart with annual cola rate increases

  6. Gina-Marie I.

    When will the increase go into effect?

    • Luis A.

      Hi Gina. As of December 2019, Social Security Cost-Of-Living Adjustments (COLA) notices for 2020 were mailed, and for most beneficiaries, the notices will be available online in the Message Center of their personal my Social Security accounts. This new increase will take effect for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments on December 31, 2019, and for Social Security payments in January 2020. You can find out more information on the new COLA and 2019’s COLA here. We hope this helps.

  7. Alan F.

    i need to know my social security payment for January 2020

    • Ann C.

      Hi, Alan. 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. Thanks!

  8. Ronnie B.

    Why can’t you provide the information a person is looking for? All I want to know is how much social security will i draw in 2020. Is that so hard?

    • Ann C.

      Hi, Ronnie. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. 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.

  9. Ronny

    I like to receive my information through the mail thank you.

  10. Valerie C.

    Received notice from SS stating that my monthly benefit was increased to
    $645.60. Then Medicare deduction was increased to $144.60.
    This has left me with a one dollar increase. This does not help with cost of living!!!!
    Why was my Medicare insurance increased by $37.60 per month?

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