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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Dennis P.
I am 73. I did not see an increase in my social security check in 2019, in fact it went down. Then 2 months later, it went down again. Why is this?
Lilli W.
5/23/2019 blog.ssa.gov does it again! Quite a thoughtful site and a thought-provoking post. Nice work!
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theodore r.
i need a copy of the award letter sent to me for 2019, for me and my wife, how do i obtain it??
V.V.
Hi Theodore, 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.
Sandra D.
what is the date i will receive my ss retirement check in June 2019?
L.A.
Hi Sandra. If your regular payment date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or federal holiday, we send your benefits the business day before your due date. For future pay dates, you may find our Schedule of Social Security Payments useful. You can find the payments schedule here. We hope this helps!
Gisela E.
I’m 72 years old and I’m getting my deceased husband Social Security. Would I lose this when I’m getting remarried?
Thank you for answering my question.
donald C.
Hi there could you possibly email me the 2019 award letter for my wife and I. I need it for financing.Thanks
Donald 6232
Janis 9037
cell 3973902
V.V.
Hi Donald. 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.
Just a reminder – We do not have access to personal information in this venue. Please be cautious about posting personal information on social media channels. Thanks.
Shane A.
Hey! Seattle super market! Stole my food card I am mad and I am hungry! And SuperMarket stupid write down paper my number and card code and they want know my birth Day and I told them for what? And they said I need your cash. I am said fucking them they wrong ripped off my food card and on food cash too! EBT have food and money for my reason less my streeful for my reason my hungry! And. Am mad in security office no one called me my number and I walk off as leave myself for my bad mood gone my EBT really hurt me that shit store took my EBT card! Please HELP,!!!!
Refactual
yeah this is definitely reliable stuff
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Bhupinder S.
why my year 2018 is not increasing my social security payment
Kaleb T.
Hello
Can you please email me a copy of 2019 letter that is title as “Your New Benefit Amount”. The last 4 numbers of my social security in 3795