COLA

Social Security Benefits Increase in 2022

October 13, 2021 • By

Reading Time: 2 Minutes

Last Updated: November 2, 2023

Approximately 70 million Americans will see a 5.9% increase in their Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments in 2022. 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 your Social Security COLA notice online using the Message Center in your 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 and not receive 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. Did you know you can receive a text or email alert when there is a new message waiting for you? 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 17, 2021, to receive the 2022 COLA notice online.

January 2022 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 2022 will be higher. The retirement earnings test exempt amount will also change in 2022.

Be among 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 2022 COLA here.

 

Did you find this Information helpful?

Yes
No
Thanks for your feedback!

Tags: , ,

See Comments

About the Author

Darlynda Bogle, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications

Darlynda Bogle, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications

Comments

  1. Vera L.

    This whole thing seems a mess! No one knowing what is going on. I know i have a payment pending for about 1/2 of normal check, i normally get my checks on the 3rd Wednesday, so i too am very confused and no where to find out???

    • Olen B.

      Same with me! Social Security Doesn’t understand Simple Information! They should say that you are getting paid on the 1st or 3rd monthly or You will no longer be Paid on the first or 3rd monthly. All my Billing dates Cannot be changed and Social Security will cause massive overdraft fees for millions if they move your Payment by Birthday!
      Extremely poor Communication and Extremely poor Operational Management is the Problem.

      • Vonda

        Hi Olen, thanks for using our blog. The Social Security payment schedule is not changing.

  2. MICHAEL B.

    we received our ssdi payment on the 3rd forever now – is this now going to be changing? if so, every bill we have that is due that depends on our check being direct deposited on the 3rd will be effected a great deal. If we are to receive it based on the birthday in 2022 it will be nearly 3 weeks late which will have many things that are setup to be autodrafted to then bounce – it will create chaos on our checking account – please help.

    • judy

      hello, i heard of the changes also. It do not apply to everyone. I too get ssdi, so we should be in the same lane. I just checked my account, and mine is still set for the 3rd of January. I do not think our dates change. I hope this will help.

  3. Evelin

    Its crazy why change dates. We all need it like always. This will make us late on rent payments. We Will be charged late payments. And other bills.

  4. Brenda J.

    I haven’t received my statement either

  5. Terry H.

    Have the annual Social Security statements been mailed for 2022? Today is Dec. 28, 2021 and I have not received my statement yet.

    • Norma L.

      I have not received mine either but people I know have received theirs. We are supposed 5.9 % increase but don’t think they are giving 5.9% cause people should be receiving almost 92 dollars or so and they are not.

      • Vera L.

        They are giving 5.9, but raising the cost of medicare so you wind up not getting much. I have always received my check the 3rd week of the month and now see it is going to 3rd. Have deposit pending, but no idea what it is for since it is about half of my regular deposit???

    • Vonda

      Hi Terry, thanks for reading our blog and for your question. We mailed the COLA notices throughout the month of December to retirement, survivors, and disability beneficiaries, SSI recipients, and representative payees. You can also securely view and save the Social Security COLA notice online via the Message Center inside your my Social Security account . If you don’t have an account, create one today.

      You can also call us at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance or you can call 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. We hope this helps!

  6. carolyn a.

    Did not receive letter for new benefit account

    • Susan B.

      It’s December 29th…have not received mine either…need it to show my senior apartment manager at recertification time… when do we receive that award letter?

    • Vonda

      Hi Carolyn, thanks for reading our blog and for your question. We mailed the COLA notices throughout the month of December to retirement, survivors, and disability beneficiaries, SSI recipients, and representative payees. You can also securely view and save the Social Security COLA notice online via the Message Center inside your my Social Security account . If you don’t have an account, create one today.

      You can also call us at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance or you can call 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. We hope this helps!

  7. Linda Z.

    Have the annual Social Security statements been mailed for December 2021? Today is Dec. 28 and I have not received my statement yet. I usually arrives around December 15.

    • Vonda

      Hi Linda, thanks for reading our blog and for your question. We mailed the COLA notices throughout the month of December to retirement, survivors, and disability beneficiaries, SSI recipients, and representative payees. You can also securely view and save the Social Security COLA notice online via the Message Center inside your my Social Security account . If you don’t have an account, create one today.

      You can also call us at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance or you can call 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. We hope this helps!

  8. Richard A.

    when will get my 2022 social security check

    • Linda C.

      What date will I get my social security check

      • Vonda

        Hi Linda, thanks for using our blog. If you were receiving or applied for Social Security benefits on or before April 30, 1997, or if you receive both Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you will receive your benefit on the third of the month. If you receive only SSI, you will receive your benefits on the first of the month. If you applied for Social Security benefits after April 30, 1997, the birthday of the person whose record you receive benefits under determines your payment date:

        Date of Birth – Payment Day:
        1st through 10th – Second Wednesday
        11th through 20th – Third Wednesday
        21st through 31st – Fourth Wednesday

        Check out our Schedule of Social Security Payments for the 2022 payment dates.

  9. FJoseph

    Is Soc. Sec. moving the dates SSA recipients will receive their checks. I get my deposit on the 3rd but read somewhere that it’s been changed to the 8th. Is this true?

    • Madeline

      I’m confused about all these changes if there saying the date of your birthday I’m going to receive it at the end of the month
      I hope that’s not true that will put my life in chaos. Everything will change that includes rent and other bills that I had payment arrangements with. I hope this won’t be the case.

      • Norma L.

        I received mined the third Wednesday of the month. Wish I received mine around 3 rd of month

        • Carl F.

          I did not receive my usual statement in december of 2021 for my benefits foe 2022.

      • Vonda

        Hi Madeline, thanks for using our blog. The Social Security payment schedule is not changing.

  10. Bruce P.

    It is December 28 2021 and I have not received notice for 2022 benefits, when will I get them

    • Vonda

      Hi Bruce, thanks for reading our blog and for your question. We mailed the COLA notices throughout the month of December to retirement, survivors, and disability beneficiaries, SSI recipients, and representative payees. You can also securely view and save the Social Security COLA notice online via the Message Center inside your my Social Security account . If you don’t have an account, create one today.

      You can also call us at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance or you can call 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. We hope this helps!

Comments are closed.