Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Information for 2025
Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for more than 72.5 million Americans will increase 2.5 percent in 2025.
The 2.5 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to nearly 68 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2025. Increased payments to nearly 7.5 million SSI recipients will begin on December 31, 2024. (Note: some people receive both Social Security and SSI benefits)
Read more about the Social Security Cost-of-Living adjustment for 2025.
The maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) will increase to $176,100.
The earnings limit for workers who are younger than "full" retirement age (see Full Retirement Age Chart) will increase to $23,400. (We deduct $1 from benefits for each $2 earned over $23,400.)
The earnings limit for people reaching their “full” retirement age in 2025 will increase to $62,160. (We deduct $1 from benefits for each $3 earned over $62,160 until the month the worker turns “full” retirement age.)
There is no limit on earnings for workers who are "full" retirement age or older for the entire year.
Read more about the COLA, tax, benefit and earning amounts for 2025.
Your COLA Notice
In December 2024, Social Security COLA notices will be available online to most beneficiaries in the Message Center of their my Social Security account.
This year, for the first time, most Social Security beneficiaries will receive a newly designed and improved COLA notice that makes it easier for customers to find the information they need most. The simplified COLA notice is now only one page, uses plain and personalized language, and provides exact dates and dollar amounts of a person’s new benefit amount and any deductions.
This is a secure, convenient way to receive COLA notices online and save the message for later. You can also choose to receive available notices online instead of by mail when you sign in or create a my Social Security account. Be sure to choose how you want us to let you know when your COLA notice is ready to view in your Message Center: email only, text message only, or both text message and email.
Remember, our services are free of charge. No government agency or reputable company will solicit your personal information or request advanced fees for services in the form of wire transfers or gift cards. Avoid falling victim to fraudulent calls and internet “phishing” schemes by not revealing personal information, selecting malicious links, or opening malicious attachments. You can learn more about the ways we protect your personal information and my Social Security account here.
Yearly Reminders for COLA Notice Recipients
If You Receive A Pension From Employment Not Covered By Social SecurityPlease let us know right away if you start receiving a retirement or disability pension for work in which you did not pay Social Security taxes. If you receive spouse’s or surviving spouse’s benefits, you must also report any changes to the pension you already receive.
Life Changes May Affect Your BenefitsCertain life changes may affect your eligibility for benefits. It is important to tell us if you marry, divorce, or your spouse or ex-spouse dies. If you have a child or stepchild who gets benefits on your record and no longer lives with you, please let us know. Visit www.ssa.gov/potentialentitlement to find out more.
Suspect Social Security Fraud?If you suspect Social Security fraud, please visit https://oig.ssa.gov/report or call the Inspector General’s Fraud Hotline at 1-800-269-0271 (TTY 1-866-501-2101).
Help Prevent Identity TheftBe aware of scams through the mail, internet, telephone, or in person. You should be careful when someone asks for personal information like your Social Security number. Please visit www.usa.gov/identity-theft to find out more.
If you still get a paper check, you must visit the Department of the Treasury’s website at www.godirect.gov to request electronic payments.
Working And Getting Social Security At The Same TimeYou can work and still get Social Security benefits. If you are at full retirement age or older, you may keep all of your benefits no matter how much you earn. Please visit www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/ageincrease.html to determine your full retirement age using our Retirement Age Calculator.
If you are younger than full retirement age at any time in 2025, there is a limit to how much you can earn before we reduce your benefits. If you are working or planning to work, we usually ask you to estimate your earnings for the year. If you do not report your estimated earnings and get paid too much, you may have to repay benefits received.
- The 2025 earnings limit for people under full retirement age all year is $23,400. We deduct $1 from your benefits in 2025 for each $2 you earn over $23,400.
- The 2025 earnings limit for people reaching full retirement age is $62,160. We deduct $1 from your benefits in 2025 for each $3 you earn over $62,160 until the month you reach full retirement age.
- To learn about Medicare eligibility or to apply, visit www.ssa.gov/medicare or call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).
- If you do not sign up for Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) when you are first eligible, or if you cancel Part B and then get it later, you may have to pay a late enrollment penalty for as long as you have Part B.
- You can choose how you get your Medicare coverage - Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage. Visit www.medicare.gov for more information.
- For questions about Medicare coverage and billing, visit www.medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) (TTY 1-877-486-2048).
- Starting January 1, 2024, the Inflation Reduction Act will expand the Extra Help Program. New Extra Help income and resource limits will help people with Medicare qualify for more prescription drug savings. To get Extra Help, apply online at www.ssa.gov/medicare/part-d-extra-help or call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).
- The Medicare Savings Programs may help pay for Medicare premiums and other out-of-pocket costs for people with limited income and resources. You can start the application process when you apply for Extra Help or you can contact your state or local medical assistance (Medicaid) office. Visit www.medicare.gov/medicare-savings-programs to get information on how to contact your state.
Visit www.healthcare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596 (TTY 1-855-889-4325) to learn more.
Other Help For Older Adults and People with DisabilitiesThe Administration for Community Living offers older adults and people with disabilities a way to connect to a variety of community services and resources.
For Older Adults: Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 or eldercare.acl.gov
For People with Disabilities: Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL) at 1-888-677-1199 or www.acl.gov/DIAL
If you still get a paper check, you must visit the Department of the Treasury’s website at www.godirect.gov to request electronic payments.
If You Work Or Want To Return To WorkWe have a free and voluntary program called Ticket to Work that helps people who get disability benefits go to work. If you participate in this program, we may set aside review of your medical condition. Special rules may allow you to keep your Medicare or Medicaid and some or all of your disability benefits during your transition to work.
Over time, you can replace your benefit payments with earnings from work. Please visit www.choosework.ssa.gov to find service providers who will explain how work will affect your benefits and help you find, prepare for, and keep a job. For more information, contact the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 (TTY 1-866-833-2967).
If you receive disability benefits, you must call us right away at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and tell us if you start or return to work. When you get Supplemental Security Income, you must also tell us each month if there are changes in the amount of your earnings. If you do not report your earnings and get paid too much, you may have to repay benefits received. When you report your earnings, we will give you a receipt to verify your report. Keep this receipt with your other important papers from us. To learn more, visit www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10095.pdf and read Working While Disabled: How We Can Help (Publication No. 05-10095). For information on employment support programs, visit www.ssa.gov/redbook and read The Red Book - A Guide to Work Incentives and Employment Supports for People Who Have a Disability Under the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Programs (Publication No. 64-030).
Easy Ways To Report WagesYou may be able to report wages using the “myWageReport” tool. This tool lets you report wages securely online using a computer, tablet, or smartphone through your my Social Security account. Go to www.ssa.gov/myaccount to sign in or create your account.
To find out if you can use our automated service, please contact us.
If You Receive Workers’ Compensation Or Public Disability BenefitsPlease let us know right away about any changes to your workers’ compensation or public disability benefit payments or lump sum awards. You must also report any new payments you receive.
Medicare Information- To learn about Medicare eligibility or to apply, visit www.ssa.gov/medicare or call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).
- If you do not sign up for Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) when you are first eligible, or if you cancel Part B and then get it later, you may have to pay a late enrollment penalty for as long as you have Part B.
- You can choose how you get your Medicare coverage - Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage. Visit www.medicare.gov for more information.
- For questions about Medicare coverage and billing, visit www.medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) (TTY 1-877-486-2048).
- Starting January 1, 2024, the Inflation Reduction Act will expand the Extra Help Program. New Extra Help income and resource limits will help people with Medicare qualify for more prescription drug savings. To get Extra Help, apply online at www.ssa.gov/medicare/part-d-extra-help or call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).
- The Medicare Savings Programs may help pay for Medicare premiums and other out-of-pocket costs for people with limited income and resources. You can start the application process when you apply for Extra Help or you can contact your state or local medical assistance (Medicaid) office. Visit www.medicare.gov/medicare-savings-programs to get information on how to contact your state.
Visit www.healthcare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596 (TTY 1-855-889-4325) to learn more.
Other Help For Older Adults and People with DisabilitiesThe Administration for Community Living offers older adults and people with disabilities a way to connect to a variety of community services and resources.
For Older Adults: Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 or eldercare.acl.gov
For People with Disabilities: Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL) at 1-800-677-1199 or www.acl.gov/DIAL
If you reside outside the U.S., you may be able to get your benefit payments electronically. Visit the Department of the Treasury’s website at www.godirect.gov for more information.
If You Move
Please let us know your correct address so we can continue to send you important Social Security information.
If You Work In 2025
If you are full retirement age or older for all of 2025, you may keep all of your benefits no matter how much you earn.
If you are younger than full retirement age at any time in 2025, and you are working outside the United States, you must tell us. Your work may affect your benefits.
Medicare Information
Information about Medicare changes for 2025 will be available at www.medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) (TTY 1-877-486-2048). For Social Security beneficiaries receiving Medicare, their new 2025 benefit amount will be available in December through the mailed COLA notice and my Social Security’s Message Center.
History of Automatic Cost-Of-Living Adjustments
The purpose of the COLA is to ensure that the purchasing power of Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits is not eroded by inflation. It is based on the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from the third quarter of the last year a COLA was determined to the third quarter of the current year. If there is no increase, there can be no COLA.
The CPI-W is determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the Department of Labor. By law, it is the official measure used by the Social Security Administration to calculate COLAs.
Congress enacted the COLA provision as part of the 1972 Social Security Amendments, and automatic annual COLAs began in 1975. Before that, benefits were increased only when Congress enacted special legislation.
Beginning in 1975, Social Security started automatic annual cost-of-living allowances. The change was enacted by legislation that ties COLAs to the annual increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W).
The change means that inflation no longer drains value from Social Security benefits.
The 1975-82 COLAs were effective with Social Security benefits payable for June (received by beneficiaries in July) in each of those years. After 1982, COLAs have been effective with benefits payable for December (received by beneficiaries in January).
Automatic Cost-Of-Living Adjustments received since 1975
- July 1975 -- 8.0%
- July 1976 -- 6.4%
- July 1977 -- 5.9%
- July 1978 -- 6.5%
- July 1979 -- 9.9%
- July 1980 -- 14.3%
- July 1981 -- 11.2%
- July 1982 -- 7.4%
- January 1984 -- 3.5%
- January 1985 -- 3.5%
- January 1986 -- 3.1%
- January 1987 -- 1.3%
- January 1988 -- 4.2%
- January 1989 -- 4.0%
- January 1990 -- 4.7%
- January 1991 -- 5.4%
- January 1992 -- 3.7%
- January 1993 -- 3.0%
- January 1994 -- 2.6%
- January 1995 -- 2.8%
- January 1996 -- 2.6%
- January 1997 -- 2.9%
- January 1998 -- 2.1%
- January 1999 -- 1.3%
- January 2000 -- 2.5% (1)
- January 2001 -- 3.5%
- January 2002 -- 2.6%
- January 2003 -- 1.4%
- January 2004 -- 2.1%
- January 2005 -- 2.7%
- January 2006 -- 4.1%
- January 2007 -- 3.3%
- January 2008 -- 2.3%
- January 2009 -- 5.8%
- January 2010 -- 0.0%
- January 2011 -- 0.0%
- January 2012 -- 3.6%
- January 2013 -- 1.7%
- January 2014 -- 1.5%
- January 2015 -- 1.7%
- January 2016 -- 0.0%
- January 2017 -- 0.3%
- January 2018 -- 2.0%
- January 2019 -- 2.8%
- January 2020 -- 1.6%
- January 2021 -- 1.3%
- January 2022 -- 5.9%
- January 2023 -- 8.7%
- January 2024 -- 3.2%
- January 2025 -- 2.5%