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.

 

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About the Author

Darlynda Bogle, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications

Darlynda Bogle, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications

Comments

  1. Ed

    So Glad we all did our patriotic duty too pay our taxes for the salaries of these Chosen Few elected nimrods.

  2. Alba H.

    Why some people are receiving a letter in mail about increase in January and most people have not received their mail to notify how much is the increase we receiving..

    • Rachel G.

      I received mine on the 3rd of January

  3. Tammy F.

    The new payment dates for SSI & SSDI are extremely unfair. Rent & bills are due on the first of the month, just like yours are. I will not receive my payment till the forth Wednesday of the month. That means I will go almost 2 months without any income. I will be charged a $95 late fee on my rent & late fees on the rest of my bills EVERY SINGLE MONTH. SSI & SSDI receiptents cannot afford to payout that extra money on late fees every single month. NO landlord, especially a rental agency is going to allow this & except rent after the 3rd of the month, we will be evicted. Electric/gas, water, trash, insurance, & other companies will shutoff or cancel services, not to mention lower our credit scores & being denied services due to late payments. This will cause unnecessary stress & problems for us. It is vital our payment dates stay on the 1st & 3rd of the month or we may end up homeless living on the streets.

    • Ed

      This is what BIG CORPORATIONS and BIG GOVERMENTS DO SO WELL!! You are in a coerced COMPLIANCE,, not legally, taxed FREE COUNTRY. You are made too feel, ” it’s part of your patriotic duty” to comply for the good of the bountiful NATION while you grind away at your very long existence of working. But the whole thing is; it was too take care of you as PROMISED when it started out. So WAS OUR ELECTED REP’S and Presidents!
      See, NOW your reps and parties HAVE BIG FINANCIAL INTRESTS in Corporate buisness. And less about you.
      Your penalties, late fees, tickets+ court cost and extra intrest rates due too late payments,, LINES MITCH Mc ducks and Lip stick Pelosi’s Pockets. Along with the rest of the sewer rats on Capitol hill.
      Take off your blinders!!! We have been shamed and lied too, they dont give a you know what about anyone of us.

    • Linda

      I don’t understand what’s going on. My check was supposed to start showing in my bank on the 3rd Wednesday of the month. I changed as many of my accounts as I could to accommodate the new payment date. Then my son called me this morning and said to check my account, my money should be there. (He is on SSDI too) I checked and it was right there in full. I don’t get it and I wish Social security would explain this. It’s very confusing and stressful when this is your money for the month and you and I depend on every penny!!!

      • Darrel

        Do you know if there still sending them out on the 3 of the month for Ssdi I know people who got there’s yesterday

        • Misty

          I got mine but no 5.9 increase

        • Denise

          Got my normal amount. Came here to find out wheres the increase, and wow what im reading is sad. Expected on the 3rd, and now seeing may come on another date?

          • V.V.

            Hi Denise, thanks for using our blog. The Social Security payment schedule is not changing. If you are questioning your benefit amount, you can 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.

        • V.V.

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

      • V.V.

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

    • Kim

      Hi Tammy we are in the same boat my mom gets her Social Security on the second Wednesday of each month which is always after our rent in our rent is always late and she tried to call them and talk to them and they will not change it so it is not right because my grandparents I’ve always gotten theirs on the third We don’t know what to do

    • V.V.

      Hi Tammy. The Social Security payment schedule is not changing.

  4. Alice B.

    IAM full Social Security age, 66 in six months. Birthday June 11, 1955. I haven’t started my Social Security yet. I have my amount for 66 in six months which is effective December 1, 2021 I assume. I am waiting to see what my benefit will be at 66 and seven months I.e. after the 5.9% increase. Will this amount show up on my Social Security account when I login in January?

  5. Ana M.

    Is ssdi Jan 3rd payment Going yo ve early

  6. Kim A.

    I have been trying to cancel medicare benefits and payments to medicare for 5 years i do not use medicare so what do i need to do?

    • Tammy

      If you stop your Medicare, when the time comes for you to get it, you will be fined.
      I didn’t want it either & I was told get it now or I will have to pay a fine when I need it. Thank God Medicaid pays my premium & co-pays or I would be totally screwed.

    • Steph L.

      Kim A, Tammy is correct. What she didn’t mention is that the “late” penalty is applied every month for the REMAINDER of your time on Medicare. (I’ve helped several friends in this predicament.) Even if you’re employed, you need to double check with Medicare to learn if this late rule will apply to you. My friend was working and didn’t sign up when necessary. He’s been paying a Medicare penalty ever since. Call
      1-800-MEDICARE (yes, it’s 1 extra digit on your phone.) After you get an answer be sure to call back AGAIN. Some agents are better than others and you certainly DON’T want to make a mistake on this! Ask them to send you a confirmation email or do an online Chat. Don’t end the Chat without photo copies!

    • Robert M.

      You can’t cancel it is mandatory weather you use it or not, they still take the money out of your ss check weather you use it or not.

    • V.V.

      Hi Kim, thanks for using our blog. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions web page for details on how to terminate Medicare Part B. We hope this helps!

  7. Jo

    What will ppl Do if they have to wait until the last wed of the month to get their check? How will we eat or pay bills timley? Why did they changed SSI deposit dates?

    • Steven

      When are they going to send the Social Security paper out to let us know how much are we getting an increase in the Social Security

      • C.C.

        Good question, none of my friends that receive Social Security benefits have received their COLA letters. It’s almost as if they forgot to send them (maybe intentionally). My best friend has been getting their SS on the 3rd of each month, they don’t know if their payment date has changed or if it will remain the same. Almost all their bills are set up direct withdrawal from their bank account. They haven’t even received any letter notifying them if the date will change or not. Those I know on SSDI and SSI got theirs between mid-November and last week of December including myself.

        • V.V.

          Hi CC. Thanks for using our blog. The Social Security payment schedule is not changing.

      • V.V.

        Hi Steven, 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!

    • Ed

      Take your loved ones and a good tent too 6100 Pennsylvania Ave. Find a nice flat surface on the LAWN WE HELPED PAY FOR and call it home!

    • V.V.

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

  8. Lea

    THEY ON TIME YALL!!!
    Just received mine n i was so worried because my daughter birthday is after the 20th. AMEN

    • Ed

      Thats wonderful! Happy birthday too your daughter.
      Next month,, watch out!

  9. Eli A.

    From reading all these many other comments I’m glad I’m not the only 1 that haven’t got my usual annual statement that I also usually get around Dec15th NOT Jan 1st or 3rd (or 4th, only once in past couple decades). Many depending on it to remain in their rental &/or approved for many things by proof of that income… if they can’t/don’t by a certain date like last day or week of the month many more will become possibly homeless &/or sick/more disabled. There must be only 1-10% of the workers there working part-time on all of this if it’s this slow/late this year. All budgeting/bills will be a guess/estimate until we get it (just like payment checks when they change amount/s).

  10. Donna Q.

    From what I’m reading it seams my date to receive my ck will b changed from the 3rd of ea mon to the 4th Wed of ea month. That will put all my auto payments in arears! Almost a month behind on everything including my rent due on 1st. Whey r they changing these dates. I can b forced to leave my apts. This has got to change!

    • V.V.

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

Comments are closed.