Social Security Benefits to Increase in 2018
Reading Time: 1 MinuteLast Updated: October 13, 2017
When we announce the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), there’s usually an increase in the Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit amount people receive each month. 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 prices increase, making your cost of living go up. This means prices for goods and services, on average, are a little more expensive. The COLA helps to offset these costs. As a result, more than 66 million Americans will see a 2.0 percent increase in their Social Security and SSI benefits in 2018.
Other changes that will happen in January 2018 are based on the increase in the national average wage index. For example, the maximum amount of earnings subject to Social Security payroll tax will increase to $128,700. The earnings limit for workers younger than “full” retirement age will increase to $17,040 and the limit for people turning “full” retirement age in 2018 will increase to $45,360.
You can find more information about the 2018 COLA here.
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Tags: Cost of living adjustment, Social Security benefits
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Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
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lorraine
Wow my golden years are going to be more golden right? Every year since I turned 65 and also worked my health has kept deteriorating so that I have had to stop working and now only live on SS and very small pension. Have many doctor and hospital bills that I can’t afford to pay because my living expenses are higher than my SS and pension and make too much to get any assistance from the government. Wow the golden years really sucks!!!
Andrew S.
For the majority who do complain, if you were self employed, you should have shown more income.
If you were not working, why?
There are too many people who are on food stamps and they pull up in band new vehicles and purchase the best meats that are available. Too many people receive what they are not entitled to. That prevents our governments from helping those who need more help.
You start paying in when you first start working and for the majority of us that is at 16 (part time work). For those who truly need more – check with your individual states about any help they can offer.
I have worked all my life and I am 73. I do not hold the belief that the Government owes us anything. We should always find a way to save for the future.
Finally, within a few years, we recoup from our social security benefits, the amount that we paid in – yet, we continue to receive payments until we die!
It really is a great system!!
Linda G.
Amen. I was taught a long time ago to take care of yourself no one else will. Do Not rely on the government to take care of you. Very important to realize that our government is too busy taking care of all the illegals in this country, Come to america everything is free! If this situation ever gets under control some of our elderly and disabled people may have a higher quality of life!
Judith r.
The government is not taking care of undocumented workers. They get no benefits, quit blaming those very hard working undocumented and place the blame where it belongs…on the republicans who only care about greed
Ben s.
K I L L A F R I E N D
Kim
I give a Bravo Zulu to those of us who’ve worked 40~50 years paying into Sociall Security, Medicare PLUS placing a percentage (25% my case) of income into savings/401k’s/IRA’s and taking care of our health in order to be self reliant and not dependent on piddling Government subsidies.
Just sayin.
JP
That’s what I’m talking about! Way to go Kim and Andrew. I’m a baby boomer going to retire soon. I knew long ago there was no way I could support myself with only SSI after retirement. That’s what you call planning for the future. Now after I’m going to retire they up the salary limits for SS deductions! I could have benefited from that in the last few years. I could have put more in because of that, so I could receive more when I retire. But that ship has sailed for me. So because I pre-planned I should be ok as long as the Equifax security breach doesn’t rear up and bite me in 2 or 3 yrs. Who knows maybe sooner. That’s just another fear to add to our list! It IS unfortunate for those who have a disability and have to depend on SSDI alone. I feel for you. We all need to inform the next generation, the gen xers and millennials there won’t be any SS left for them. They need to work and starting saving and investing NOW!! They’re parents will NOT be able to support them if they don’t!
Jane B.
wow an 18 dollar increase. we work all our lives and we end up on social security which is just another high class form of welfare. there is no difference.
AKA
Who’s fault is it that you decided to rely upon SS as your sole means of retirement income?
Judith r.
Wow, that was nasty. Some people work hard and live in areas where pay is bad. Hard to invest when you live paycheck to paycheck. Also perhaps they had medical issues and were unable to afford insurance, before the ACA. For instance, I had super medical insurance as I worked in a hospital, but by the time my husband died of cancer, we had used every bit of that insurance (ceilings), if he hadn’t died I would have been bankrupt.
Patricia C.
There was mention of SSI, what about SSA? will recipients of SSA be getting a raise in distributions in 2018? I do not find this report complete in all of the facts that affect recipients of social security benefits!
Ray F.
The 2.0 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) applies to all beneficiaries. To read more, please visit http://www.socialsecurity.gov/cola.
Judy
I am a senior also and I agree with all the comments here.I have several medical issues and I can barely keep my head above the water every month.Praying for the better in 2018.
Dennis T.
The gov. needs to stop spending our money,they need to put our money back into S.S/
Buggywugs
And should reimburse every one of us — with interest!
Elaine
Yes they should! But that will never happen. They like lining their pockets too much.
Linda R.
Great news but how much will medicare go up?
Janet G.
You got that right. It seems every time ss goes up so does medicare coverage so net net you get nothing….
Buggywugs
You have NAILED it!
Elaine
I turned 69 in August and I live in a senior housing HUD and not only does my Medicare premium go up, but so does my rent so people in the same situation I am in get screwed 2 times.
I thank God that I am fortunate enough to be in one of the better areas for housing in Chicago suburbs. Oh, I have MS, let’s not even talk about MS therapy drugs. I make about $8.00 over the limit to be eligible for either food stamps or Medicaid.
Michael M.
(..2- % )
Ray F.
Hi Linda. Information about Medicare changes for 2018, when announced, will be available at http://www.medicare.gov.
Martin
I receive disability payment now but will turn 68 in dec. What if anything will happen
Ray F.
Hi Martin. We automatically convert your disability benefits to retirement benefits, when you attain your Full Retirement Age. The benefit amount remains the same.
Car
Ray Fernandez, Please explain the Hold Harmless Clause to people and why the majority of the 66 million people will Not receive a bottom line increase to the social security…only if they do not direct deposit their social security check, are in a high income bracket…Anything $25 or less will to their Medicare Part B Premium and their bottom line $$$ will remain the same…This is called being transparent…Most of the people do not understand that the Medicare Part B Premium was raised from $104 to $134 in 2017 and any social security recipients that use direct deposit saw an increase in 2017 of $5 or (0.03%) to their Part B Premium…Not $30, due to the Hold Harmless Clause…thus their increase in 2018 up to $25 will be applied to their Medicare Part B Premium…Be Transparent..Many years with little or no increase only results in more poverty.
carols
Ray Fernandez, Please respond to CAR comment.
Alfred L.
An Increase of $14.70 in my Supplemental Security Income in 2018,also an Increase in Rent in my one room apartment in Worcester,Mass.age:67.
Diane
I grew up in Worcester…I couldn’t afford to live there now…went to North High…class os of 66…
John
Shouldn’t you have a home paid for by now since you’re 67 years old and at that age no one should be paying rent.
AKA
He gets SSI or welfare and did not have to work a lick for it. This should give you an idea why he could never buy a house or anything else worth much.