COLA

Social Security Benefits to Increase in 2018

October 13, 2017 • By

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Last Updated: October 13, 2017

man and woman outside smiling 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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About the Author

Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications

Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications

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Comments

  1. Dennis

    Help help))))) I need to know the process or the phone number to reach I’m being mentally challenged // to see on my reward letter I asked for it a week ago or so but never got a response,

    • V.V.

      Hi Dennis, thank you for your question. You can get a benefit verification letter online instantly by using your personal my Social Security account. This letter is sometimes called a budget letter, a benefits letter, a proof of income letter or a proof of award letter. To set up your account, visit the my Social Security web page and select, “Sign In or Create an Account.” You will need to provide some personal information to verify your identity, choose a username and password and follow the rest of the steps to finish creating your account. Once you create your account, scroll down to the Benefits and Payments section and choose “get benefit verification letter” where you can instantly view, print, or save your official letter.

      If you are unable to create an account or encounter a problem, you may call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. At the voice prompt, say “helpdesk” or you can contact your local Social Security office.

  2. Shirle

    When a spouse dies, and both have been receiving SS benefits on their own merit or contributions, what does the survivor receive? Their own or whatever is largest amount?

    • V.V.

      Hi Shirle, thank you for your question. If the survivor is already receiving benefits as a spouse, then their benefit will automatically convert to widow(er)’s benefits after we receive the report of death.

      If the survivor is receiving retirement benefits on own record, then they would only apply for benefits as a widow(er) if their retirement benefit amount is less than the benefits they would receive as a survivor. You don’t receive both, only the higher of the two.

  3. Chris

    We’re not going to stop posting blogs until are approval award we will keep killing the elderly off in the hospitals I hope people can see this world wide

  4. DRKEMP

    We feel to start killing again in the hospitals I can’t tell you which ones it will be though kill the elderly off the judges made us do it

  5. Dale

    I just poisoned another niggers drink the judge made me do it ((((HA HA

  6. Brent

    Watch out that judge might (((BUTT RAPE YOU)))

  7. Peggy

    Can you help me find an award letter I requested one a week ago never got a response .

    • V.V.

      Hi Peggy, thank you for your question. You can get a benefit verification letter online instantly by using your personal my Social Security account. This letter is sometimes called a budget letter, a benefits letter, a proof of income letter or a proof of award letter.

      To set up your account, visit the my Social Security web page and select, “Sign In or Create an Account.” You will need to provide some personal information to verify your identity, choose a username and password and follow the rest of the steps to finish creating your account. Once you create your account, scroll down to the Benefits and Payments section and choose “get benefit verification letter” where you can instantly view, print, or save your official letter.

      If you are unable to create an account or encounter a problem, you may call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. At the voice prompt, say “helpdesk” or you can contact your local Social Security office.

  8. Sara

    Kill off the elderly people in the hospitals around the world ?

  9. Doug

    I want to see people kill off the niggers that’s a start

  10. Brian

    The judge made us do it

Comments are closed.