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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JUNE M.
I NEED A LETTER OF AWARD FROM SOCIAL SECURITY TO VERIFY INCOME. I CAN NOT FIND THE RIGHT SECTION TO REQUEST IT. PLEASE HELP.
A.C.
Hi, June. If you need a benefit verification letter, you can view, print, and save your benefit verification letter by setting up a personal my Social Security account online. For questions regarding your benefit verification letter, we ask that members in our Facebook community contact our offices. You can call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance. Representatives are available between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. You will generally have a shorter wait time if you call after later in the day. We hope this helps.
Juan A.
greetings
I attempted to create an account for me. I have been receiving benefits since 2003. ive been on dialysis since January 2003 and suffer from other debilitating ailments also such as neurapathy, sleep apnea ect.,..
after attempting to create an account I ran into a snag. I wasn’t allowed to create my username and password. please advise
A.C.
Hi, Juan. If you are still unable to create an account or encounter a problem with your personal my Social Security account, you may:
•Call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. At the voice prompt, say “helpdesk”; or
•Contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Elaine R.
My letter says you cannot pay me “monthly benefits at this time”.
Any monthly benefits at all? My new, larger monthly benefits? My back (since 12/18) benefit adjustments?
And when will you be able to pay me?
Sherry D.
I’m trying to find out what page I go on to get my reward letter
A.C.
Hi, Sherry. If you need a benefit verification letter, you can view, print, and save your benefit verification letter by setting up a personal my Social Security account online. For questions regarding your benefit verification letter, we ask that members in our Facebook community contact our offices. You can call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance. Representatives are available between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. You will generally have a shorter wait time if you call after later in the day. We hope this helps.
Robert S.
I am on ssi benfints I would like to know the amount it is each month
thank you
Robert Szymanski *** – ** – ***
L.A.
Hi Robert. The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) standard Federal payment for a person who is single is $771 per month. For a married couple is $1,157 per month. Some States add money to this standard Federal payment. The Social Security disability benefit amount varies based on the person’s earnings record. To find out more about the specific amount of benefits that you may be getting, please contact your local Social Security Office. We hope this helps.
Shirley P.
Social security need to keep up with the flow of the economy. It’s good to have true enough. but this day and time the cost of living is much more than the payments people receive. People have worked their behinds off and receive under $1000 a month which is not good. Not saying we should get what we brought home from our paychecks but enough to live off of. It seems like the people that never or half worked gets better benefits from the government than the ones that worked! Welfare, Food stamps, Living assistance, etc. It should be a fair act for all.
Patricia A.
I am looking for my award letter. Can’t log on.
Patricia Morrison
L.A.
Hi Patricia. We are sorry to hear that you are having difficulty accessing your personal my Social Security account. If you are still unable to access your account or encounter another problem with your personal my Social Security account, you may:
•Call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. At the voice prompt, say “helpdesk”; or
•Contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Shirley P.
Yes I also can’t log in to My SS Account either. When I set up any account I save User ID & Password to my notes on my phone & my email notes. Question: Do the password has to be changed every six months?
Thank you
Richard W.
I just want a statement of my current SS–it’s about $1080?
I need it for a housing loan
*** – ** – ***
L.A.
Hi Richard. If you need proof you get Social Security benefits, Supplemental Security (SSI) Income or Medicare, you can request a benefit verification letter online by using your personal my Social Security account. We hope this helps.
Ronnie B.
Did not receive my July check which was due on July 10th and is automatically deposited into my account
Mirza M.
Does social security helps with food stamps?
A.C.
Hi, Mirza. For information about the food stamps program, also called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), you will need to contact your local SNAP office. You will also find a list of States that allow you to apply online. We hope this helps.