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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Rachelle R.
2019 award letter
Luis A.
Hi Rachelle. The notices showing the increase for 2020 started to be mailed in December 2019. If you have not received yours yet, you should be getting it shortly. If your address changed after November 15, 2019, it will be mailed to the previous address on record. In the mean time, if you need a benefit verification letter (proof of your benefits), you can view, print, and save your benefit verification letter using your personal my Social Security account. We hope this helps.
Frances D.
I am already on Social Security. But I need reveived my award stating my new amount and benefits for 2020. How can a get one sent to my address. I have always received one, but for some reason I did not received the regular I usually get.
Ann C.
Hi, Frances. 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. For questions regarding your benefit verification letter, 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 later in the day. We hope this helps.
Eleanor E.
I am 66 years old and currently receive $1,207.00 in retirement benefits, will my benefits increase when I turn 67 years old
Ann C.
Hi, Eleanor. Each year we review the records for all working Social Security recipients to see if additional earnings may increase monthly benefits. If your earnings for the prior year are higher than one of the years we used to compute your retirement benefit, we will recalculate your benefit amount. Generally, we will send a letter explaining any increase in your benefit amount. If you are referring to a cost of living adjustment, we will not know if there will be a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2021, and if so the amount of the COLA, until late October when the Department of Labor releases information on inflation for the past year. For the latest news and updates on Social Security, please check out our page here. Thanks!
Harold E.
I am trying to change my address of record for general information ONLY :
This change does not affect benefits receipt as I DO NOT WANT TO CHANGE MY DIRECT DEPOSIT.
Harold E Lea / – -7844
20166 West Lincoln Street
Buckeye, Arizona 85326
Previous Address: P O Box 5012, Inglewood, CA 90310.
Ann C.
Hi, Harold. If you are receiving Social Security retirement or disability, you can create a personal my Social Security account to change your address online. If you are receiving Supplemental Security Income, you should contact your local office immediately. Just a reminder – please be cautious about posting personal information on social media. We hope this helps.
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Patricia M.
What date will we get our ssdi for Jan 2020
Donald P.
How do you find a chart with the 2019 Medicare part b
premiums. It should come up if you search in the Social Security web site. What a government run web site. Just a simple question and can not find in this site and when I google it I get about the same info. Just a simple question in the search bar.
Ann C.
Hi, Donald. For information about Medicare Part B premiums, please visit Medicare’s website here. Thanks!
Charlotte R.
why hasn’t my husband got his letter from the government about his raise?
Ann C.
Hi, Charlotte. If your husband still needs a benefit verification letter, he can view, print, and save his benefit verification letter by creating a personal my Social Security account online. We hope this helps.
Roberta C.
Will I receive disability payments after I turn 65?
Ann C.
Hi, Roberta. Thanks for your question. When you reach full retirement age, we will automatically convert your disability benefits to retirement benefits, but the benefit amount remains the same. To find out your full retirement age, please go here. We hope this helps.
Charles A.
If you receive your Social Security check on the 4th Wednesday of every month direct deposit, and the Christmas holiday falls on that Wednesday are you going to receive it on Tuesday, 12/24/2019?