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. Kendall w.

    Cola is not covering any cost of living !

  2. Jason D.

    1.6 percent isn’t nearly sufficient. If you recall anybody retired ten years got three years with no COLA!

  3. Jane M.

    I need to set up a new SS account. I have lost my pass word and need to create a new one. Can you help me with this?

    • Vonda V.

      Hi Jane, thanks for using our blog. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions web page for details on how to retrieve or change your username and password. We hope this helps!

  4. Gail W.

    Is there any way to get a copy of my 2020 Social Security increase for this year?

    • Vonda V.

      Hi Gail, thanks for using our blog. We will mail COLA notices throughout the month of December to retirement, survivors, and disability beneficiaries, SSI recipients, and representative payees. If you would like the notice, sooner, you can securely view and save the Social Security COLA notice online via the Message Center inside your my Social Security account in early December without waiting for the mailed notice. If you don’t have an account, create one today. We hope this helps!

      • Pumpkin

        I received an email saying I have a message to login to my account and I have SSI I get under regular I don’t have disability due to work credits but I battled unfortunately chronic issues young and I’m still young (in 40’s) upon logging in there’s no cola message there!! As stated!!!

  5. wesley m.

    my yearly income is 8 hundred and 70 dollars a year and my ssi disabilieties is 751 a month my food stamps is 80 dollars i should qualify for the 2,000 thousand dollars a month increase as i belive it has been said by congress

  6. Karla K.

    WHAT? Do you speak English? I didn’t understand what you said.

  7. Gary H.

    Social slSecurity benefits were supposed to increase by 2.8%. My increase was a little less than 2.8%. Why is that?

    • Vonda V.

      Thanks for using our blog, Gary. 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 for assistance or you can contact your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.

    • Karla K.

      Where did you get the figure of 2.8%? Social Security is saying 1.6% which is a BAD joke! So is 2.8% but that’s a different conversation.

  8. John E.

    Since most old people don’t drive much cheap gas does me no good and should not count in the COLA raise. I drove 3500 miles last year. Things like food and prescription drugs are eating me alive. How about a real raise just for once and stop taking it back in medicare increases. I already paid for medicare since it started and now you want more??? We are old people just trying to get by, please give us a break before we all are among the homeless. I beg you give us a real raise please. Last year do you really think 1.6% minus Medicare is a raise or a bad joke on old people. Thank you and help!! JOHN….. PS I worked for 48 years and never got a penny in any kind of benefits.

  9. Ha.Rebecca

    If we do or don’t do it, someone will laugh

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