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

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Comments

  1. Joseph

    How do I apply for SSDI cause I have enough work credits in but I was giving SSI cause my TV Lawyer told me to only go back to age 50 so at 1st I got 524$ a month now I get 802.25$ a month thank good for rapid response or I would be living in the woods I took care of my Father for 5 years never got a penny from the VA he was a WWII war Vet than I took care of my brother in-law for 3 or 4 yrs that’s when I read the book n I was supposed to be paid for taking care of them

  2. Teena

    How much will Medicare Premiums increase?

    • A.C.

      Hi, Teena. For the 2020 Medicare changes, please visit http://www.medicare.gov. Thanks!

  3. Barbara

    OMG 1.6% is barely worth mentioning. And since the Medicare Part B cost has gone from $135.50/mo to $144.30/mo (an $8.80 increase) the SSA increase is so small that with the cost of inflation, etc. that tiny bit hardly makes a difference when you go to the store! But I guess half a loaf of bread is better than none – I’ll take it. But it’s sad how the people who have worked all their lives and contributed to this are really not getting the full benefit they should be. Sad, sad, sad!

  4. Charlotte D.

    I can not log onto my account my email is Charlottedakin7@gmail.com

    • A.C.

      Hi, Charlotte. 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. Just a reminder – please be cautious about posting personal information on social media. We hope this helps.

  5. Brenda L.

    Please do send me future notices regarding the Social Security increase effective January 2020 as well as any other notices about retirement, etc. As an American citizen living in the United Kingdom, I rely on this direct communication with the Social Security Administration.

    Thank you,
    Brenda L. Fasnacht

    • Wendy

      How do you receive SS from here but live there?

      • S T.

        The UK is not one of them, but many SocSec recipients live in other countries where the cost of living is lower. There are American retirement communities in Mexico and Costa Rico, also Portugal, as well as other countries.

  6. DONALD M.

    Thanks for the good news.

  7. Bernadette S.

    how do you suppose people like me to live on 1.6% raised? The money I received per month is not even enouf for me to pay my mortgage and to pay copay on 12 medications.

  8. HILDE H.

    There is a typo in your Fact Sheet, shouldn’t it be
    “Tax Exempt Amounts” instead of “Test”?

    Retirement Earnings Test Exempt Amounts

  9. Cindy

    It will certainly help, everything is so costly,

  10. Irwin C.

    I appreciate the information on Social Security and will keep it in Favorite Places to refer to and will pass it along to my senior friends ( i will be 78yo in Nov ).

Comments are closed.