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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Jessie M.
For some reason I have not received a notice of my SS increase to be deposited in my bank account. It must have been delivered to another address
Ruby R.
I turn 67 3/19/2019…When should I sign up to get benefits for 67 yrs. old. to start receiving as soon as I turn 67?
jean e.
how can i get an award letter?
Stephen D.
I need to find out how to get my social security award letter…
K.O.
Hello Stephen. You can obtain an “award letter”, also known as a benefit verification letter online by using your personal my Social Security account. Hope this helps. Thanks!
Carol C.
I didn’t receive a COLA increase. Can you tell me why? I am already having 2/3 taken from me due to retiring under PERS – which I understand was a law passed years ago. And some groups are now trying to have removed.
Shirley T.
you did not answer my question-will Social Security checks be processed on January 9th 2019?
Brenda C.
My husband didn’t receive his new benefit amount, but I did. Could you Please resend it to us or e-mail it to us at bgriswalls7@msn.com. His name is Ronald A. Carlson. thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Ronald A. Carlson
Eric J.
Wjll i be getting a i i crease ?
Joyce L.
Recent remarried in May 2018,and would need to have new name change. Also would like to know if I am legally able to use my former last as well for business purposes.
Kathryn s.
SS shows i have an acct and nothing matches i was unaware of this and can not create new or open old pls advise