Social Security Benefits Increase in 2022
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast 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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Tags: COLA, my Social Security, my Social Security account
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Darlynda Bogle, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Darlynda Bogle, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
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Todd
My wife has social security disability when she turns 62 should she try to change to regular social security
V.V.
Hi Todd, thanks for using our blog to ask your question. Social Security disability benefits automatically change to retirement benefits when disability beneficiaries become full retirement age. The law does not allow a person to receive both retirement and disability benefits on one earnings record at the same time. We hope this helps!
Freeda P.
What a crock. SS has lost 30 percent purchasing power since year 2000. Throwing another 5.9% peanut to us is of little help. If you want to help struggling seniors, stop double taxing the benefit. We’ve paid SS tax all our working lives and now you continue to tax us in our “golden years”? My SS account has evolved into something where the Government pays itself through my account.
Dc
Agree its a joke when govt buys more weapons but we get little of our money we invested in ssdi for years its our investment not hand out.
Joe
Minimum wage jumps up to $15 per hour in most states if not all and yet we who receives social security gets 5.9% which = a disgrace and so once again another form of attack against seniors 😡.
Joy O.
Hello. I’m still covered as an active employee although age 68. I enrolled in Medicare Part A in early 2021 with goal of having a 2021 effective date coverage was backdated to 2020 which impacts my HSA eligibility. The rep at Social Security counseled me to withdraw from Medicare and re-enroll later. I’ve sent paperwork to disenroll about 2 months ago but has not been processed. How can I get this expedited? Trying to retire. Thank you.
V.V.
Hi Joy, thanks for using our blog to reach out. Please contact your local Social Security office. Look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information.
Charlene S.
In 2022, what will be the increase out of our monthly benefit for Medicare?
Robert E.
What will be my Medicare cost for 2022
Debora a.
I am 65 paying Medicare for x amount of years how much more will they take out whenthey dont give u anything u derserve
V.V.
Hi Debora. Not sure if you’re asking about next year’s Medicare premiums but information about Medicare changes for 2022, when announced, will be available at http://www.medicare.gov. For Social Security beneficiaries receiving Medicare, Social Security will not be able to compute their new benefit amount until after the Medicare premium amounts for 2022 are announced. Final 2022 benefit amounts will be communicated to beneficiaries in December through the mailed COLA notice and my Social Security’s Message Center.
V.V.
Hi Robert. Information about Medicare changes for 2022, when announced, will be available at http://www.medicare.gov. For Social Security beneficiaries receiving Medicare, Social Security will not be able to compute their new benefit amount until after the Medicare premium amounts for 2022 are announced. Final 2022 benefit amounts will be communicated to beneficiaries in December through the mailed COLA notice and my Social Security’s Message Center.
V.V.
Hi Charlene, thanks for reaching out using our blog. Information about Medicare changes for 2022, when announced, will be available at http://www.medicare.gov. For Social Security beneficiaries receiving Medicare, Social Security will not be able to compute their new benefit amount until after the Medicare premium amounts for 2022 are announced. Final 2022 benefit amounts will be communicated to beneficiaries in December through the mailed COLA notice and my Social Security’s Message Center.
Jose L.
Hi, Iam 62 but still working, If I retire on march of 2022, will I received the increase of 5.9?. Or that is only for people already receiving SS benefits.
V.V.
Hi Jose, thanks for using our blog. If you are an insured worker, you are eligible for Social Security retirement benefits when you reach age 62. Regardless of when you choose to begin receiving Social Security retirement benefits, your monthly benefit amount will include all cost-of-living increases starting with December of the year you attain age 62. Check out our Social Security Benefit Amounts web page for more details. We hope this is helpful.
Nancy M.
Is the recent SS increase of 5.9% included in the estimated benefits calculation available online?
V.V.
Hi Nancy, thanks for using our blog to ask your question. The estimated benefits provided by the social security statement are in today’s dollars. If you have a my Social Security account, you can get an estimate of your personal retirement benefits and see the effects of different retirement age scenarios. If you are unable to create an account, you can use our online Retirement Estimator. Both tools provide benefit estimates in today’s dollars.
To get an idea of what your benefits would be in future, or inflated, dollars, you can use one of the three calculators on the Calculators web page. You can select the online, quick or detailed calculator. We hope this helps.
Susan B.
If you just use a Calculator, you take your amount your currently receive, and Multiply it by 5.9%. Then whatever than amount is, you add that to what your currently receiving. I pray your getting a big raise! God Bless you. It sure is a time to buy what you need and not any extras. It’s been hard, but God has always made a way.
Nile F.
I am trying to investigate why I am exempt from the current ss cola. Please direct me to information that explains why some recipients are exempt.
V.V.
Hi Nile, thanks for using our blog. All monthly Social Security (retirement, disability and survivors) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for approximately 70 million Americans will see a 5.9% increase in their Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments in 2022.
The 5.9 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to more than 64 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2022. Increased payments to approximately 8 million SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 30, 2021.
For more details about the new COLA, visit our Cost-of-Living Adjustment information page.
TERRANCE W.
terryjnumber1@gmail.com
Stacey
Hi. I was reading about the essential person qualifications and still have questions. I am my sons caretaker and have been his entire life. He is about to turn 20 and I am wondering if I am able to pull in that payment as his full-time live-in caretaker now that he is an adult? Thanks in advance for any 411.
V.V.
Thanks for your question, Stacey. We do not pay caregivers. However, you may be eligible to receive social services from the state in which you live. These services include free meals, housekeeping help, transportation, or help with other problems. You can get information about services in your area from your state or local social services office. You can also visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services web page for more information.
Sandra j.
This is my first time doing this for my husband for Social Security benefits he’s in the hospital cannot talk I need someone to call me back I feel like the Social Security benefits well I don’t know if I did it right
V.V.
Hi Sandra, thanks for reaching out. We are sorry to hear about your husband’s condition. 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. We hope this information helps.