Social Security Benefits to Increase in 2019
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: November 3, 2023
Each year we announce the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). Usually there is an increase in the Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit amount people receive each month, starting the following January. By law, federal benefits increase when the cost of living rises, as measured by the Department of Labor’s Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).
The CPI-W rises when prices increase for the things the average consumer buys. This means that when prices for goods and services we purchase become more expensive, on average, the COLA increases monthly benefit levels and helps you keep up with the changing cost of living.
As a result, more than 67 million Americans will see a 2.8 percent increase in their Social Security and SSI benefits in 2019.
January 2019 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, as well as the retirement earnings test exempt amount, will change in 2019.
Want to know your new benefit amount as soon as possible? In December 2018, we will post Social Security COLA notices online for retirement, survivors, and disability beneficiaries who have a personal my Social Security account. You will be able to view and save these COLA notices securely via the Message Center inside my Social Security.
Be the first to know! Sign up for or log in to your personal my Social Security account today and choose email or text under “Message Center Preferences” to receive courtesy notifications so you won’t miss your electronic COLA notice!
This year, you will still receive your COLA notice by mail. In the future, you will be able to choose whether you receive your notice online instead of on paper. Online notices will not be available to representative payees, individuals with foreign mailing addresses, or those who pay higher Medicare premiums due to their income. We plan to expand the availability of COLA notices to additional online customers in the future.
You can find more information about the 2019 COLA here.
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Tags: Cost of living adjustment, my Social Security, my Social Security account, 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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Marilyn F.
I have not received my letter of increase for 2019 other friends and have.
V.V.
Hi Marilyn. Most beneficiaries can check out their COLA notice in the Message Center of their my Social Security account . You will also receive this COLA notice by mail in December. The mailings are staggered. In the future, you will have a choice of online or paper notification.
For more details, check out our Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Information web page.
Garnet P.
I did not receive my new Benefit Amount Statement for 2019.Can you send me the Benefit Statement Thanking you in advance
V.V.
Hi Garnet. Most beneficiaries can check out their COLA notice in the Message Center of their my Social Security account . You will also receive this COLA notice by mail in December. The mailings are staggered. In the future, you will have a choice of online or paper notification.
For more details, check out our Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Information web page.
Carolyn B.
I received a email that I had a message on my web site but I cant get in just wondering what the message is
V.V.
Hi Carolyn, thank you for your question. The message could be about the COLA notice. Beneficiaries that are my Social Security users received a courtesy notification indicating a COLA Notice was delivered to their Message Center inbox. In the Message Center inbox, there is an item titled: “Your 2019 Social Security Cost of Living Increase.” When you open the message, there’s a hyperlink to retrieve the online notice. You will also receive a paper notice in the mail but in the future you will have a choice of online or paper notification.
Jane S.
When will the 2019 medicare part B rate information be sent . my insurance co. requires a written confirmation of tge new rate before tgey will change my insurance rate from $109.
R.F.
Hello Jane. For information on the 2019 Medicare Parts A & B premiums and deductibles, go to: http://ow.ly/2x9Y30mxXAb. Thanks!
james m.
When will I be receiving my 2019 benefits letter in the mail?
R.F.
Hello James, the notices will be mailed during the month of December 2019. For more details about the new COLA, visit http://www.ssa.gov/cola. Thanks!
Steve M.
Have the 2019 Benefit Award letters been published for 2019 yet. or when will they be available?
R.F.
Hello Steve. The Social Security COLA-2019 notices will be available online to most beneficiaries in the Message Center of their my Social Security, during the month of December 2018. You will still receive your COLA notice by mail this year, but in the future you will be able to choose whether you receive your notice online instead of on paper. For more details about the new COLA, visit http://www.ssa.gov/cola. Thanks!
Bonnie
I have not received notice of my social security benefits for 2019. Have the notices been mailed yet?
R.F.
Hello Bonnie, COLA notices will be mailed throughout the month of December 2018. Also, Social Security COLA notices will be available online to most beneficiaries in the Message Center of their my Social Security.
For more details about the new COLA, visit http://www.ssa.gov/cola. Thanks!
john
I worked hard all my life made good money,however my last 2 years working I could do less and less therefore and made lower wages now disability will caculate my earnings off this lower pay earnings.this is so unfare to penalize people in this way
R.F.
Hello John. For retirement benefits, we use the individual’s highest 35 years of earnings to compute monthly benefit amount, you may find our Early or Late Retirement Calculator helpful. Thanks!
Ruth H.
Please send me a Schedule of Social Security Benefit
Payments for 2019.
Thank you
Lucille M.
Every year for 4 years I believe my raise went on raising my medicare payments. My social security has stay the same for I am still trying to live on the same amount for quite a few years. So when will I get a raise on my check ?