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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Jasmine p.
When will January 2020 checks be available
A.C.
Hi, Jasmine. Thanks for your question. For future pay dates, you may find the schedule of Social Security benefits payment calendar useful. We hope this helps.
Patricia H.
I did not get my new socal security info for 2020?
d g.
yes but medicare takes it down to less than 1.1%
Fred N.
I have not received new SS card and I have questions and would like to talk to a live person.
A.C.
Hi, Fred. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community work with our offices with specific questions. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. Generally, you will have a shorter wait if you call later in the day. You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
robert
ok . thankyou, my past comment was a week ago, about receiver of c.in.payment note. . I went to the office here and was printed just one. they said it could have wentb to that payeeship office I filled you in on at the time. this changeinpaymentnote is ,has more pages, if that has something to do immediate can for some of us, get to the point as where,what and do we need like, lawyer service specific payment stoped , we do not get very much like for internet, computer, printer and advice, I do not have even house, any more so we are at there mercy.
Phyllis U.
Does a withdrawal from 401K considered as income and does it affect social security benefits
A.C.
Hi, Phyllis. Thanks for your question. For our earnings test, we count an employee’s gross wages and net earnings from self-employment. For more information, check out how work affects Social Security payments here. We hope this helps.
Susan D.
I didn’t receive my notice of the increase. Should I call Social Security office?
A.C.
Hi, Susan. If you need a benefit verification letter, you can view, print, and save your benefit verification letter by creating a personal my Social Security account online. We hope this helps.
Preference A.
I want my 2020 cola proof of income letter available online. I do not have an email address due to my objection to service providers’ abusive surveillance and use of my personal information. You should not force me to provide an email address as a condition of obtaining services. Your administrative convenience is secondary to people who have earned social security benefits.
Charles T.
How do I get a copy of my 2019 Award Letter?
L.A.
Hi Charles. You should have received a notice in December telling you about your Social Security benefits. If you need a benefit verification letter, you can view it, print it, and save it using your personal my Social Security account. We hope this helps.
Jennie H.
How do I correct the amount shown as my adjusted gross income noted in your Benefits increase in 2020 letter?
L.A.
Hi Jennie. You may file an appeal online. If you need help with your appeal, please contact your local Social Security office. The appeal must be made within 60 days from the date you received your notice. For more information, please read our publication titled “Appeals Process.” We hope this helps.