COLA

Social Security Benefits Increase in 2021

October 13, 2020 • By

Reading Time: 2 Minutes

Last Updated: November 2, 2023

Approximately 70 million Americans will see a 1.3 percent increase in their Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments in 2021. 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, leading to a higher cost-of-living. This change means prices for goods and services, on average, are a little more expensive, so the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) helps to offset these costs.

We will mail COLA notices throughout the month of December to retirement, survivors, and disability beneficiaries, SSI recipients, and representative payees. But, if you want to know your new benefit amount sooner, you can securely obtain the Social Security COLA notice online using the Message Center in your personal my Social Security account.  You can access this information in early December prior to the mailed notice.

If you prefer to access your COLA notice online instead of receiving the mailed notice, you can log in to your personal my Social Security account  to opt out of a mailed COLA notice and any other notices that are available online by updating your Preferences in the Message Center. You can also choose to receive a text or email alert when there is a new notice. That way, you always know when we have something important for you – like your COLA notice. If you don’t have an account yet, you must create one by November 18, 2020 to receive the 2021 COLA notice online.

January 2021 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 in 2021 will be higher. The retirement earnings test exempt amount will also change in 2021.

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.

You can find more information about the 2021 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. Martha B.

    What about widow’s or widower’s pension will they be in part of an increase also?

    • Vonda V.

      Hi Martha, thanks for using the blog to ask your question. All monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for more than 70 million Americans will increase 1.3 percent in 2021. For more details about the new COLA, visit our Cost-of-Living Adjustment information page.

  2. Robert M.

    Come on people you can do better then this 1.3% Elect Biden get Trump out. Trump and all his rich buddy’s all made millions on his for the rich tax cuts, When it comes to retired seniors we get the short end of the stick, not right.

  3. Eddie M.

    That’s it

  4. Diane J.

    I went into my online SS account and it was totally deleted! I didn’t delete it I know for certain I did not. How can I get my information back?

    • Vonda V.

      We are sorry to hear about the difficulties you are experiencing, Diane. 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.

  5. Heriberto R.

    full retirement

  6. John R.

    Can you please tell me why my S.S.I check went down $200.00 in the mo of Sept and $100.00 in Oct 2020 my VA went up but why did my S.S.I go down? My 1st 2 VA checks go to the attorneys that got my ease on my VA check. The last 2 mos I only had a total of $798.00 for 2 mos when it should have been $1098.00 that’s 300 dollars difference. I realy need that different if at all possible. Thank you.
    My name is John Roy Queen D.O.B. is 6/16/1950 social is XXXXXXXXXX. phone# 321-245-8359. Please let me know. E-Mail is (johnqueen467@gmail.com. thanks.
    JohnR. Queen.

    • Vonda V.

      For your security, John, 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.

    • Hames I.

      I would strongly suggest taking down all the private personal information you have posted in this comment. It puts you at serious risk for identity theft. Just a thought. Much luv & peace

  7. Laura W.

    As all of us have suffered enough from this epidemic. I think 2021 is going to be a good year for all of us and may this year will bring progress and recovery for all of us.

    https://www.divineleather.com

  8. Peggy C.

    1.3 percent increase in Social Security is a joke, not to mention humiliating. I have always been an advocate for term limits for Senatorial and Congressional elected officials. Using these positions as a retirement home causes perpetual complacency and a complete disconnect with the outside world. And now, it has become dangerous and even deadly for all of us.

  9. Wanda L.

    It’s a shame that we worked hard all our lives and now our government is forcing us to scrape by. Do we give up food or a place to live first? It is rapidly coming to that for the elderly in what is supposed to be the greatest country in the world. We are living well below the poverty level already and it’s just getting worse.

  10. JERRY S.

    THIS IS OUTRAGOUS, 1.3% ISN’T EVEN CLOSE TO HELPING US LAST YEAR’S INCREASE WENT TO MEDICARE. WE NEED TO KICK OUT ALL THOSE CHEAP ASS CONGRESSMAN AND SENATATORS WHO MAKES MILLIONS AND SET ON THEIR FAT ASSES NOT DOING WHAT IS GOOD FOR ALL RETIRED PEOPLE BUT TAKING CARE OF THE RICH AND SCREWING THE HONEST WORKING PEOPLE AND RETIRED PEOPLE . THIS GREAT COUNTRY U.S.A. IS HEADING FOR CIVILIAN WAR LIKE WE CAN’T IMAGINE. EVERYONE WAS FORCED TO QUIT THEIR JOBS BECAUSE OF THIS COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND ALL THE DUMBASSES WE PUT IN CONGRESS TO LOOK OUT FOR THE AMERICAN PUBLIC ARE ACTING LIKE A BUNCH OF DUMBASSES THERFORE I SAY GET RID OF ALL OF THEM AND START OVER, WE THE GREAT U.S.A. IS THE LAUGHING JOKE TO ALL OUR ALLIES ACROSS THE WATER’S THEY ARE WAITING TO SEE THE U.S.A. FALL APART AND GO FROM NUMBER 1 TO THE BOTTOM OF HELL.

    • Linda W.

      YOU GO JERRY!! I AGREE WITH EVERY WORD YOU SAID!! WE NEED ALL THOSE LAZY ASSES IN THE SENATE & THE HOUSE TO BE THROWN OUT, LIKE YESTERDAY!!! THEY LIVE HIGH ON THE HOGS, ON OUR BACKS!! THEY NEED TO HAVE TERM LIMITS! THIS IS RIDICULOUS!! THEY SHOULD NOT SPEND THERE ENTIRE LIVES IN THOSE POSITIONS!! THEY SHOULD NEVER GET PAID LIKE THAT, THEY SHOULD NEVER GIVE THEMSELVES RAISES, OUTRAGEOUS!!! THEY SUCH GET PAID LIKE THE AVERAGE AMERICAN, THEN MAYBE THEY JUST MIGHT UNDERSTAND, THAT A 1.3 PERCENT RAISE IS LIKE A SLAP IN OUR DESGUTTED FACES!!! UNBELIEVABLE!!!! THIS IS NO RAISE, ITS A JOKE, AND GUESS WHAT, WE ARE NOT LAUGHING, BUT I WOULD BE WILLING TO BET 1.3 PERCENT, THEY ARE!!!! THANKS JERRY, ALL THE LOVE, BROTHER
      LINDA WILKINS, CLOVIS, CA.

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