2021 Social Security saw a 1.3% cost-of-living increase for the nearly 70 million Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries. For an average retiree who receives monthly social security benefits, that adds up to an additional $20 a month.
See our COLA increase watch for more on the COLA and 2021 social security increase. Will the Coronavirus have an impact?
#BREAKING! Approximately 70 million Americans will get a 1.3% increase in monthly #SocialSecurity benefits and #SSI payments in 2021. Check our blog later this morning for more information: https://t.co/42WeesNNHV #COLA #2021COLA pic.twitter.com/BpK20EC2av
— Social Security (@SocialSecurity) October 13, 2020
“The 1.3 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to more than 64 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2021.” ~ SSA statement
2020 Social Security saw a 1.6% cost-of-living increase for the nearly 69 million Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries. For an average retiree who receives monthly social security benefits of $1,460, that adds up to an additional $23.40 a month.
2021 Social Security and SSDI Effective & Payment Dates:
- Social Security benefits are effective beginning with December 2020 benefits, which are payable in January 2020.
- Federal SSI payment levels will begin on December 31, 2020.
To calculate the 2021 COLA (Cost-of-Living Adjustments) increase, if any, the average of the indices of July, August, and September 2020 are compared with the 2019 3rd quarter average. The end result is the percentage by which Social Security benefits are adjusted. This is referred to as the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA).
2021 Social Security Changes
The maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) will increase to $142,800 from $137,700, a 3.70% increase.
The earnings limit for workers who are younger than “full” retirement age (see Full Retirement Age Chart) will increase to $18,960. (The SSA deducts $1 from benefits for each $2 earned over $18,960.)
The earnings limit for people reaching their “full” retirement age in 2021 will increase to $50,520. (The SSA deducts $1 from benefits for each $3 earned over $50,520 until the month the worker turns “full” retirement age.)
| Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) | ||
| Non-Blind | $1,260/mo. | $1,310/mo. |
| Blind | $2,110/mo. | $2,190/mo. |
| Trial Work Period (TWP) | $ 910/mo. | $ 940/mo. |
| $3,011/mo. | $3,148/mo. | |
| SSI Federal Payment Standard | ||
| Individual | $ 783/mo. | $ 794/mo. |
| Couple | $1,175/mo. | $1,191/mo. |
| SSI Resource Limits | ||
| Individual | $2,000 | $2,000 |
| Couple | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| SSI Student Exclusion | ||
| Monthly limit | $1,900 | $1,930 |
| Annual limit | $7,670 | $7,770 |
| All Retired Workers | $1,523 | $1,543 |
| Aged Couple, Both Receiving Benefits | $2,563 | $2,596 |
| Widowed Mother and Two Children | $2,962 | $3,001 |
| Aged Widow(er) Alone | $1,434 | $1,453 |
| Disabled Worker, Spouse and One or More Children | $2,195 | $2,224 |
| All Disabled Workers | $1,261 | $1,277 |
Source: SSA.gov
How Social Security is Calculated
Social Security benefits are based on lifetime earnings and are adjusted or “indexed” to actual earnings to account for changes in average wages since the year the earnings were received. Then, Social Security calculates the average indexed monthly earnings during the 35 years in which the most was earned. They apply a formula to these earnings and arrive at your basic benefit, or “primary insurance amount.” This is how much would be received at your full retirement age — 65 or older, depending on the date of birth.
How Are Social Security Increases Calculated?
To ensure the value of money at retirement keeps up with the rate of inflation, the SSA ties its adjustment for Social Security benefits to the wage earners’ Consumer Price Index (CPI-W). The increase is known as a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) and it calculates the change in the CPI-W for urban wage earners and clerical workers from the third quarter average of the previous year to the third quarter average for the current year
| CPI-W Measurement |
||
| 2019 | 2020 | |
| July | 250.236 | 252.636 |
| August | 250.112 | 253.597 |
| September | 250.251 | 254.004 |
| Third quarter total | 750.599 | 754.999 |
| Average (rounded to the nearest 0.001) | 250.200 | 253.412 |
| Inflation According to the CPI-W | 1.6% | 1.3% |
Third quarter 2019 was used for the three month average comparison as the law dictates that the SSA use the same three months of “the last year in which COLA became effective.”
| History of COLA (cost-of-adjustments) since 1975 | |||||
| Year | COLA | Year | COLA | Year | COLA |
| 2021 | 1.30% | 2005 | 2.70% | 1989 | 4.00% |
| 2020 | 1.60% | 2004 | 2.10% | 1988 | 4.20% |
| 2019 | 2.80% | 2003 | 1.40% | 1987 | 1.30% |
| 2018 | 2.00% | 2002 | 2.60% | 1986 | 3.10% |
| 2017 | 0.30% | 2001 | 3.50% | 1985 | 3.50% |
| 2016 | 0.00% | 2000 | 2.50% | 1984 | 3.50% |
| 2015 | 1.70% | 1999 | 1.30% | 1983 | N/A |
| 2014 | 1.50% | 1998 | 2.10% | 1982 | 7.40% |
| 2013 | 1.70% | 1997 | 2.90% | 1981 | 11.20% |
| 2012 | 3.60% | 1996 | 2.60% | 1980 | 14.30% |
| 2011 | 0.00% | 1995 | 2.80% | 1979 | 9.90% |
| 2010 | 0.00% | 1994 | 2.60% | 1978 | 6.50% |
| 2009 | 5.80% | 1993 | 3.00% | 1977 | 5.90% |
| 2008 | 2.30% | 1992 | 3.70% | 1976 | 6.40% |
| 2007 | 3.30% | 1991 | 5.40% | 1975 | 8.00% |
| 2006 | 4.10% | 1990 | 4.70% | ||
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| Money & Finance | Cost of Living Adjustment |
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