1.3% COLA Benefit Increase for 2021 | Social Security
Author: U.S. Social Security Administration
Published: 2020/10/13
Category Topic: U.S. Social Security - Academic Publications
Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main
Synopsis: U.S. Social Security Administration announces Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for Americans to increase 1.3 percent in 2021. Most people who receive Social Security payments will be able to view their COLA notice online through their personal my Social Security account.
Introduction
United States of America (U.S.A.) Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for approximately 70 million Americans will increase 1.3 percent in 2021, the U.S. Social Security Administration announced today (13/10/2020).
Main Content
- 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.
- Increased payments to more than 8 million SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 31, 2020. (Note: some people receive both Social Security and SSI benefits).
- The Social Security Act ties the annual COLA to the increase in the Consumer Price Index as determined by the Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Some other adjustments that take effect in January of each year are based on the increase in average wages. Based on that increase, the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) will increase to $142,800 from $137,700.
Social Security and SSI beneficiaries are normally notified by mail starting in early December about their new benefit amount.
Most people who receive Social Security payments will be able to view their COLA notice online through their personal my Social Security account. People may create or access their my Social Security account online at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount
Information about Medicare changes for 2021, when announced, will be available at www.medicare.gov
For Social Security beneficiaries receiving Medicare, Social Security will not be able to compute their new benefit amount until after the Medicare premium amounts for 2021 are announced.
Final 2021 benefit amounts will be communicated to beneficiaries in December through the mailed COLA notice and my Social Security's Message Center.
Fact Sheet: 2021 U.S. Social Security Changes
U.S. Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA)
Based on the increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W) from the third quarter of 2019 through the third quarter of 2020, Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries will receive a 1.3 percent COLA for 2021.
Other important 2021 Social Security Information:
| Tax Rate | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Employee | 7.65% | 7.65% |
| Self-Employed | 15.30% | 15.30% |
NOTE: The 7.65% tax rate is the combined rate for Social Security and Medicare. The Social Security portion (OASDI) is 6.20% on earnings up to the applicable taxable maximum amount (see below). The Medicare portion (HI) is 1.45% on all earnings. Also, as of January 2013, individuals with earned income of more than $200,000 ($250,000 for married couples filing jointly) pay an additional 0.9 percent in Medicare taxes. The tax rates shown above do not include the 0.9 percent.
| 2020 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum Taxable Earnings | ||
| Social Security (OASDI only) | $137,700 | $142,800 |
| Medicare (HI only) | No Limit | |
| Quarter of Coverage | ||
| $1,410 | $1,470 | |
| Retirement Earnings Test Exempt Amounts | ||
| Under full retirement age | $18,240 Year ($1,520 Month) |
$18,960 Year ($1,580 Month) |
| NOTE: One dollar in benefits will be withheld for every $2 in earnings above the limit. | ||
| The year an individual reaches full retirement age | $48,600 Year ($4,050 Month) |
$50,520 Year ($4,210 Month) |
| NOTE: Applies only to earnings for months prior to attaining full retirement age. One dollar in benefits will be withheld for every $3 in earnings above the limit. | ||
| Beginning the month an individual attains full retirement age | None | |
| 2020 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|
| Social Security Disability Thresholds | ||
| Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) | ||
| Non-Blind | $1,260 Month | $1,310 Month |
| Blind | $2,110 Month | $2,190 Month |
| Trial Work Period (TWP) | $910 Month | $940 Month |
| Maximum Social Security Benefit: Worker Retiring at Full Retirement Age | ||
| $3,011 Month | $3,148 Month | |
| SSI Federal Payment Standard | ||
| Individual | $783 Month | $794 Month |
| Couple | $1,175 Month | $1,191 Month |
| 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 |
| Estimated Average Monthly Social Security Benefits Payable in January 2021 | ||
| Before 1.3% COLA | After 1.3% COLA | |
| 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 |
Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by U.S. Social Security Administration and published on 2020/10/13, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.