COLA

Social Security Benefits Increase in 2023

October 13, 2022 • By

Reading Time: 2 Minutes

Last Updated: November 2, 2023

older adults standing and talkingApproximately 70 million Americans will see a 8.7% increase in their Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments in 2023. On average, Social Security benefits will increase by more than $140 per month starting in January.

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 higher. 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 personal my Social Security account. You can access this information in early December, prior to receiving the mailed notice. Benefit amounts will not be available before December. Since you will receive the COLA notice online or in the mail, you don’t need to contact us to get your new benefit amount.

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 by changing your Preferences in the Message Center. You can update your preferences to opt out of the mailed COLA notice, and any other notices that are available online. 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 15, 2022 to receive the 2023 COLA notice online.

“Medicare premiums are going down and Social Security benefits are going up in 2023, which will give seniors more peace of mind and breathing room. This year’s substantial Social Security cost-of-living adjustment is the first time in over a decade that Medicare premiums are not rising and shows that we can provide more support to older Americans who count on the benefits they have earned,” Acting Commissioner Kilolo Kijakazi said.

January 2023 marks when other changes 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 2023 will be higher. The retirement earnings test exempt amount will also change in 2023.

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 2023 COLA here.

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  1. Nansy G.

    Why is maximum starting pay so much higher for new SS retirees, I was fortunate to draw the maximum, when I applied. But, new retirees have a much higher maximum than I did. Current recipients should keep pace with new recipients? Corporate pay scales have a bit of disparaging gaps for new labor force vs existing labor force. But the gap for Social Security retirement is huge. COLA does not do enough to close this gap. Is the increase in the gap justified somehow? This should be rectified. If the maximum jumps $1,000 for new recipients, current recipients should be increased to the new maximum each year, in lieu of the COLA.

  2. Tony P.

    What form do I need to opt out from Part B for new enrollment (this December). My friend’s spouse still working and she’s covered by his medical plan from work.

    • Maria

    • Ann C.

      Hi, Tony. We do not offer form CMS-1763 online. If your friend’s spouse wishes to terminate her Medicare Part B enrollment, a signed request for termination and generally, a personal interview are required. She can can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. She can also contact her local Social Security office. We hope this helps.

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  4. Sheri B.

    I was sent letters in 2021 for an overpayment in 2020 & another in 2021 for 2020 overpayment telling me I wasn’t entitiled to the full cost of living increase due to the fact I began receiving SSI at 62. Was told those who begin receiving SSI early are not entitled to the full COLA raises, only a small percentage of it. They decreased my benefits in 2021 for the 2020 yr due to this reason. These letters came after I turned 65 and am now 69, which means I received (1) when I was 67 & the other at 68 for the previous year. They sent me a letter last year 2022 stating they overpaid me $1800 in 2021on the COLA because I started receiving benefits early. I received one letter in 2021 for a$1200 overpayment. I filed documentation both times that I couldn’t afford to pay the monies back. The $1200 one disappeared. Not heard about the $1800 but did receive a letter telling me they hadn’t figured in my 2021 wages and the benefit would increase in October but it wouldn’t be retroactive to the beginning of 2022. So now, due to them not including my wages for 2021, I am screwed on the receiving the correct SSI from Jan 2022 through Sept 2022. Now I wonder if this wasn’t the same scenario with the 2020 yr and they never adjusted my SSI to reflect the wages from 2020 in computing my 2021 SSI. No where can I find in writing where those receiving early benefits aren’t entitled for the full COLA raises. What gives? Are those who file for benefits early penalized on receiving the full COLA raises after they turn 65 yrs?

    • Ann C.

      Hi, Sheri. Thanks for visiting our blog. 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, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.

  5. Flopsy

    The new amount for 2023 is not posted yet on my account although I got an email from SSA advising I can check it on MY acct on line! Is this fake news too!!??

    • Karen M.

      Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for approximately 70 million Americans will increase 8.7 percent in 2023.

      The 8.7 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to more than 65 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2023. Increased payments to more than 7 million SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 30, 2022. (Note: some people receive both Social Security and SSI benefits)

      • Diane H.

        Will I receive the COLA
        if I just signed up for social Security? My payments begin on January 1 2023

        • Ann C.

          Hi, Diane. Thanks for visiting our blog. 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, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.

  6. Elaine

    The word is hurting due to COVID-19 shutting down business putting a higher dollar on everything makes it harder on the economy and hiking interest rate like that going to work people are hurting I guess we all need just need to PRAY ask GOD to help the WORD Thanks FOR the help for the elderly and Disability it’s about time they are making changes

  7. Irish C.

    Social Security is taking $170.00 out of my check for Medicare which I didnt sign up for or want so now I’m only getting $213.00 a month,this is fecking bullshit and I’m appealing it,this has fecked up christmas for me in a HUGE way and also it will effect me buying cat food/vet care,the raise in SSI is a dam joke.

    • Dixie J.

      This happened to me once I started work and only working 12 hours a week. It wasn’t worth trying to work!!! I am also gluten free so my groceries are 3x the amount of everyone else’s. My loaf of bread is 6.99! Plus I have a 14 year old Chihuahua who has special needs right now $$$. Not fair!

    • david p.

      hi sorry for your pain. my friend had same happen to him. he mailed letter to ssa, 1 or 3 months later ssa. fixed the mistake about enrollment in medicare and mailed check to him
      hope this helps. remember gov. responds about
      30 days after they recieve a letter

    • Ann C.

      Hi, Irish. We are sorry to hear about your situation. If you wish to terminate your Medicare enrollment, a signed request for termination, form CMS-1763,  and a personal interview is typically required. Please contact your local Social Security office for assistance. We hope this is resolved soon. 

  8. Sheryl R.

    How did this raise come about? Was this from an old law or was this actually done by the current administration?

    • Barbara L.

      Hi Sheryl, COLA or “Cost of Living Adjustment” has been the way that the SSA attempts to keep the benefits up with the cost of living. The amount changes every year. This year is the highest since 1981. I actually remember that happening, it was like 11.1% and my parents were on SS at the time. But the economy was terrible as it is now. The worse the economy the greater the chance for a higher COLA amount. And being that someone has to own it, the current Admin is the correct one to assign that to.

  9. Ree

    I do appreciate an increase in my social security , but why did medicaid increase as well.
    We already have a increase in food prices, gas prices, rent and our insurance.
    We need a real break.

    • Enuf

      Then vote Republican.

      • Tonya

        Republicans wants to cut government sending to decrease inflation. And what does that cut look like? SS, SSI, SSDI, Medicare, SNAP, & all the other poor people assistance. That’s were all the money is.

        • Kevin B.

          Actually, the GOP doesn’t favor continuously adding to the give away programs. Philosophy is to try to get those able to work working. Democrat philosophy is to buy votes thru giving tons of money away – such as forgiving Student Loans rather than making the borrower responsible for the actions they took to owe the debt (I grew up in poverty and got a degree without borrowing money to do it – I worked.) Social Security is funded by the recipients, not the general public. That’s a key difference between the 2 self serving parties.

        • Sheri B.

          Your SS will not be decreased or cut off. That is a Democrat scare tactic.

      • Brenda

        No! Abbot get 700,000 from NRA…is why he’s ignoring that fact…hes so into moving migrants even tho his wife is a immigrant and Women’s right to choise…he’s not a woman…how does he know ..has he been raped by a father…uncle..or a man?

    • Dian

      One factor for the increase was that CMS was setting aside money in its reserves in case it decides Medicare will cover, Aduhelm, a new Alzheimer’s disease drug that was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

    • Carie S.

      I just think it’s sickening that as an older population, here in the United States of America we have to live on so little. I barely can scrape by month to month.

      A couple of years ago there was a man running for president who was going to give everybody $2,000 a month to help us get by. He never even made it as far as the voting day and for my life I don’t understand why not.

      Is everybody in the United States were to get 1 million dollars that would total about $380 million tops. Now we spend more than that in a day as the United States the whole on ice cream. That may be exaggerated but that’s the only example I can think of. My point is that $380 million is nothing compared to stimulus checks.

      • David

        You know I never looked at it that way,but I think you’re on to something. If there’s roughly let’s say 350 million people in the U.S. then 1 million to each family is really doable makes complete sense

        • Chuck

          Actually $1,000,000 (1 million) for 380,000,000 (380 million)
          people would cost $380,000,000,000,000 (380 trillion dollars).

        • Carie

          Thank you.

          • Carie

            380 million people get 1 million that’s $380 million * 1

  10. Debra

    That is great that we on social security are getting a COLA adjustment. The problem is that I don’t benefit much. Like many dependent on disability, and receiving Section 8 housing, this means our rent increases. We cannot benefit if this continues with those of us who cannot work. I sent the increase info to SNAP BUT THEY DO NOT CONSIDER RENT FROM PEOPLE ON SECTION 8 AS VALID. What are we supposed to do? We don’t benefit by much at all. I need to pay my bills and I also need to eat. This does very little. HUD needs to stop this practice on those who are on SOCIAL SECRITY AND SSI

    • Debra G.

      Btw my rent went up $30.00 last time. I cannot afford this. The elderly and disabled are NEVER considered

      • Debra G.

        My benefit is only $1,060. This HUD rent increase is killing me

        • Joshua

          Can I be of help ?

Comments are closed.