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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Mildred A.
How do I get a Social Security Awards letter.
V.V.
Hi Mildred, thanks for using our blog. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions web page on how to get a benefit verification letter, also known as an award letter or proof of income letter. You also may be able to request one by using our automated telephone service at 1-800-772-1213. You can conduct the automated services 24 hours a day. At the prompt, indicate that you’re requesting a proof of income letter. We hope this helps.
Sauad E.
Hello,
I need a copy of the letter shows my new benefit amounts of the year 2019 and 2020 as it’s been lost. Please email it to me at my email address mentioned below with many thanks.
V.V.
Hi Sauad, thanks for using our blog. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions web page for details on how to get a benefit verification letter. You also may be able to request a benefit verification letter by using our automated telephone service at 1-800-772-1213. You can conduct the automated services 24 hours a day. At the prompt, indicate that you’re requesting a benefit verification letter. We hope this helps.
Earl T.
I have a 2018 report but 2019 report
BUT I need 2019 information to file 2019 taxes
I can make do with:
Gross Income (without any deductions)
And the amount SSA deducted for taxes
I can multiply these two by 12 if you do no
V.V.
Hi Earl, thanks for using our blog. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions web page on how to obtain a replacement 1099. You also may be able to request a replacement SSA-1099 by using our automated telephone service at 1-800-772-1213. You can conduct the automated services 24 hours a day. At the prompt, indicate that you’re requesting a replacement SSA-1099. We hope this helps.
Earl T.
I need 2019 SSA information to fill taxes
V.V.
Hi Earl. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions web page on how to obtain a replacement 1099. You also may be able to request a replacement SSA-1099 by using our automated telephone service at 1-800-772-1213. You can conduct the automated services 24 hours a day. At the prompt, indicate that you’re requesting a replacement SSA-1099. We hope this helps.
Richard B.
I have my own S.S. I am 69. My girl has her own S.S. she is 69 also. If we get married does it affect our payment. We don’t get much individuley, and can’t afford less. Is it better to not get hitched?
V.V.
Hello Richard, thanks for using our blog to ask your question. If you get Social Security disability or retirement benefits and you marry, your benefit will stay the same. See “If I get married, will it affect my benefits” for more information. Thanks!
Irma H.
My SSI is it on hold.i need to know about my SSI.
A.C.
Hi, Irma. 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. Please contact your local Social Security office for assistance. We hope this helps.
Darrel E.
A newspaper article by Nicole Tiggemann, Social Security spokesperson, said to go to socialsecurity.gov/pubs/EN-05-10125.pdf and EN-05-10536.pdf to read more.
Guess what, the site says nothing found on both pubs..
V.V.
Hi Darrel, thank you for using our blog. It sounds like you may have questions related to the Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount. To determine if you’ll pay higher premiums, Social Security uses the most recent federal tax return the IRS provides to us. If you must pay higher premiums, we use a sliding scale to make the adjustments, based on your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI). Your MAGI is your total adjusted gross income and tax-exempt interest income.
For details regarding an appeal, check out the factsheet: What You Can Do if You Think Your Medicare Income-Related Premium is Incorrect.
To report a Medicare Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount Life-Changing Event, complete and return the form to your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Jacqueline D.
How do I find out who the Representative is of my Son who is a minor. This is unjust and unfair treatment considering our Case was never Closed and No Factual Evidence was proven in Court and we never received our Due Process and the Courts should have never stolen my Son’s SSI check. But, I Know the Representative is not following SSA Federal Guidelines and it’s my SSDI money that he is drawing from because for some reason SSA stopped his SSI CHECK and is Disabled and has been from Birth. Why they stopped his check is beyond me and since I can’t work and draw he is entitled to collect off of my Disability because I am Head of Household. So Social Security owes me back money from 2010 to 2018. I no longer want this Representative handling my disabled Son’s finances because he is doing a poor job and hiding money from my Son.
V.V.
Hi Jacqueline, thanks for using our blog. 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 for assistance or you can contact your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
Derrick
What the mailing address for social security Administration in Phoenix got to mail in my poof Employee
V.V.
Hi Derrick, thanks for using our blog. Use our Social Security office locator to obtain your local office phone number and mailing address. We hope this helps!
Steven S.
how do i get my rewards letter over the computer