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. Rudolph O.

    My address has changed. I have not received the new statement of my benefits for 2019. How do I get a new statement for 2029?

    Rudolph Oscar Schlosser, Jr.

  2. PAMELA H.

    when do I get my ss increase

    • V.V.

      Hi Pamela, thanks for using the blog to ask your question. 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.

  3. connie t.

    Lot of my acquaintances have received their increase notice. I haven’t yet. How are the notices mailed?

    • V.V.

      Hi Connie. The mailings are staggered. 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. 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. Elaine l.

    I still have not received 2019 new benefit statement in mail.

    • V.V.

      Hi Elaine. 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. Stephen L.

    I never received my new benefit statement for 2019,

    • V.V.

      Hi Stephen. 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. Ellen W.

    I have not received my COLA 2019 statement….will it be mailed l yet still this year

    • V.V.

      Hi Ellen. 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. Laurie N.

    My notice came about my increase but it didn’t change from last year. I understand it should have been 2.8% increase but didn’t show me getting anything l already receive $427.50

    • V.V.

      Hi Laurie. For some beneficiaries, their Social Security increase may be partially or completely offset by increases in Medicare premiums. The Social Security Act contains a “hold harmless” provision that protects most beneficiaries. The amount of the benefit will stay the same even though the Medicare Part B premium increases. For information about Medicare premiums in 2019, visit http://www.medicare.gov.

  8. Jay E.

    “We plan to expand the availability of COLA notices to additional online customers in the future.” The words, “in the future” are not needed. The present tense of the verb “to plan” can only mean that an event is awaited, i.e., that it is “in the future”. Thus, there’s no need to state “in the future”.

  9. Alexis L.

    Please send letter stating what my 2019 benefits will be to my email.

  10. mary l.

    How much will my increase be

    • V.V.

      Hi Mary Lou, thanks for using the blog to ask your question. 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.

Comments are closed.