COLA

Social Security Benefits to Increase in 2019

October 11, 2018 • By

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Last Updated: November 3, 2023

man and woman on balcony outside smiling 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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About the Author

Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications

Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications

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Comments

  1. Raymond R.

    My wife got a new benefit account statement for 2019, but I did not get one. Can I look this up online or please send another one. Thanks
    540 586-9505 Ray Noel

    • V.V.

      Hi Raymond. 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.

  2. Peter Z.

    I have not received my New Benefit Amount statement for 2019. My Wife, Joann R Cahan received hers several weeks ago. Please send me a New Benefit Amount statement for my records. my SS# is *** – ** – ***. Thank You.
    Peter Z. Cahan

    • V.V.

      Hi Peter. 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.

  3. lelola s.

    would like to know how much I will receied for ssi & social sercurty for 2018

    • V.V.

      Hi Lelola. All monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for more than 67 million Americans will increase 2.8 percent in 2019.

      The 2.8 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to more than 62 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2019. Increased payments to more than 8 million SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 31, 2018. (Note: some people receive both Social Security and SSI benefits.)

      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.

  4. Norbert J.

    when will i receive my 2019 benefit statement, letter of increase? THANK YOU…

    • V.V.

      Hi Norbert. 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.

  5. DONNA A.

    I haven’t received anything on the increase in the mail. Are they still in the process of mailing them?

    • V.V.

      Hi Donna. 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.

  6. marilyn y.

    when will I get my rewards letter?

    • 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.

  7. Rose K.

    i have not received my New Benefits Amount in the mail. Please send another to , Los Angeles 90036-4457

    • V.V.

      Hi Rose. 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.

  8. Thomas A.

    Where can I get the “Schedule of Social Security Benefit Payments 2019” every time I put this in the question bar, I get every thing but what I am looking for.

  9. Juergen R.

    We , my wife Marianne Rasch and I Juergen Rasch
    did not receive our Medcare Reimbursement Forms
    and our 2019 Social Security Benefit Award Letter
    yet Please help us in this matter to set up
    the Recurring Medicare Part B Reimbursement for
    2019 .
    Our Social Sec. #:*** – ** – *** Marianne Rasch
    #*** – ** – *** Juergen Rasch

    • V.V.

      HI Juergen, thank you for using the blog. 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.

      As for the Medicare reimbursement forms, you will need to check with Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048) or visit http://www.medicare.gov.

  10. Loretta E.

    I have not been able to gain access to my online acct. in months. I want to know if I got an increase.
    Thank you

Comments are closed.