How much is the increase: Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments for approximately 70 million Americans will increase 1.3% in 2021. This is the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). 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).
When the increase takes effect: The increase will begin with benefits that Social Security beneficiaries receive in January 2021. Increased SSI payments will begin on December 31, 2020.
When your notice will arrive in the mail: We mail COLA notices throughout the entire month of December. It is possible that your friend or family member will receive their notice in the mail before you. Please wait until January before contacting us about your mailed notice. However, you may not need to wait for your mailed notice to learn your new benefit amount for 2021.
Who can see their notice online: COLA notices are available online to most beneficiaries through the Message Center of their personal my Social Security account if they created their account by November 18, 2020. my Social Security is a secure, convenient way to receive COLA notices online and save the message for later. You can also opt out of receiving notices by mail that are available online.
Sign up for your own account and get an email or text message the next time your COLA notice is available online for you. You can also use your account to manage your benefits and much more!
For more information see:
- COLA Fact Sheet
- COLA Publication
- Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Information page