by Social Security benefits will rise by 1.3 percent in 2023, the government announced Friday, as a key inflation index pointed to meager increases in consumer prices. This is the second year in a row that benefits have increased only slightly after years of no cost-of-living adjustments. The cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, is based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, which the Labor Department released Friday morning.
How Social Security benefits are calculated?
To calculate your Social Security benefits, the first step is to determine your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA). Your PIA is based on your average earnings during your highest 35 years of earnings. If you have fewer than 35 years of earnings, the missing years will be counted as zeroes.
Once your PIA is determined, it will be adjusted for inflation. For example, if you retire in 2018 at age 62, your PIA will be increased to reflect the cost-of-living increases that have occurred since you reached age 60 (the earliest age you can begin receiving Social Security benefits).
Your final Social Security benefit amount will also be based on when you retire. If you retire at your full retirement age (FRA), you will receive 100% of your PIA. But if you retire before or after your FRA, your benefit amount will be reduced or increased, respectively.
The impact of inflation on Social Security benefits
Inflation can have a big impact on Social Security benefits. Each year, the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is used to help ensure that Social Security benefits keep pace with inflation. However, because COLA is based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), which may not accurately reflect seniors’ spending patterns, some seniors may still find that their benefits don’t fully cover their costs.
The Social Security Administration notes that the average retired worker received about $1,360 per month in 2019, while the average disabled worker received about $1,194. For a single person, this might not be enough to live on, especially if they have high medical costs.
While there are some steps seniors can take to help offset the impact of inflation on their benefits (such as working longer or claiming benefits earlier), ultimately it’s important for Congress to ensure that Social Security benefits keep pace with the true cost of living for seniors.
How to maximize your Social Security benefits?
Assuming you are at full retirement age or older, there are a few ways to maximize your Social Security benefits.
First, you can delay claiming your benefits past your full retirement age. For every year you delay past your full retirement age, up until age 70, your benefit will increase by about 8%. This is a good option if you are still working and don’t need the income from Social Security right away.
Second, you can claim spousal benefits. If you are married, you can claim either your own benefit or 50% of your spouse’s benefit, whichever is higher. You can start receiving spousal benefits as early as age 62, but if you start before your full retirement age, your benefits will be reduced.
Third, if you have been divorced, you may be able to claim benefits based on your former spouse’s work record. To be eligible for these benefits, you must have been married for at least 10 years, be unmarried and aged 62 or older., and your former spouse must be eligible for Social Security retirement or disability benefits.
Finally, remember that Social Security benefits are not just for retirement. If you become disabled before reaching full retirement age, you may be eligible for disability benefits. And if you die before reaching full retirement age, your surviving spouse (or minor children) may be eligible for survivor benefits.
Social Security benefits to increase for 2023
Social Security benefits will increase by 1.3% in 2023, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced Friday.
The cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), which rose 1.6% in the 12 months ending September 2020. The COLA is used to adjust Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for inflation.
This is the third year in a row that benefits have increased by less than 2%. In 2020, there was no COLA, and benefits increased by just 0.3% in 2021.
While the COLA is welcome news for beneficiaries, it doesn’t make up for lost ground. For example, someone who received $1,000 in benefits in 2020 will get just $1,003 this year. And while prices have risen modestly over the past year, they are still below their pre-pandemic levels.
The SSA also announced that the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax ( payroll tax) will increase to $142,800 in 2023 from $141,900 in 2022. Of course, this only affects workers who earn more than the taxable maximum; most workers will continue to pay Social Security taxes on all of their earnings
How much will social security benefits increase for 2023?
The average social security benefit will increase by $21 in 2023, amid concerns of inflation. This is the first social security benefit increase since 2019, when benefits rose by $39.
While the cost of living has been on the rise in recent years, social security benefits have not kept pace. In fact, benefits have only increased by 2% since 2010, while the cost of living has risen by 12%.
Now, with inflation back on the rise again, social security recipients can expect their benefits to go up a bit more. The average benefit will increase by $21 in 2023, to adjust for inflation.
This is good news for retirees and other social security recipients who rely on these benefits to make ends meet. However, it is important to remember that this increase is still not enough to keep up with the rising cost of living. So retirees will need to be mindful of their expenses and budget accordingly.
How is the cost-of-living adjustment calculated?
The cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is calculated using the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). The CPI-W measures changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a market basket of consumer goods and services. The COLA is based on the CPI-W from the third quarter of the last year in which there was an increase in prices (currently 2019) to the third quarter of the current year. If there is no increase in prices, there is no COLA.
What other factors can affect social security benefits?
There are a number of other factors that can affect social security benefits. For example, benefits can be offset by other forms of income, such as pensions or investment earnings. In addition, benefits may be taxable, which can reduce the amount received. Finally, cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) may not keep pace with inflation, which can also reduce the purchasing power of benefits.
When can I start receiving social security benefits?
The earliest age you can start receiving social security benefits is 62.
How do I apply for social security benefits?
If you are currently receiving benefits, you do not need to do anything. Your benefits will be automatically adjusted for inflation. If you are not currently receiving benefits, you can apply online at www.socialsecurity.gov, or call our toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), to set up an appointment to file a claim.
The average Social Security benefit will increase by $24 in 2023
The average Social Security benefit will increase by $24 in 2023, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced Wednesday.
The cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), which increased 2.3% in the 12 months ending September 2020. This is the largest COLA since 2012, when benefits rose 3.6%.
The SSA projects that the average retired worker will receive $1,543 per month in 2023, up from $1,519 in 2022. The average disabled worker will see their benefit increase from $1,277 to $1,301 per month.
Some 62 million Americans currently receive Social Security benefits. About one in four households relies on Social Security for nearly all of their income.
How the cost-of-living adjustment is calculated
The cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is calculated using the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). The CPI-W measures changes in the prices of goods and services that are typical for urban workers. The COLA is based on the CPI-W from the third quarter of the year before the current year. So, for example, the COLA that takes effect in December 2018 is based on CPI-W data from July through September 2017.
If there is no increase in the CPI-W from one year to the next, there is no COLA. If the CPI-W goes up, as it did from 2017 to 2018, then benefits go up as well. In general, when there is a COLA, it will be announced in October and take effect the following December.
Other benefits that are increasing in 2023
In addition to the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increase, there are other Social Security benefits that will be increasing in 2023. The maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security payroll tax will increase to $183,600, up from $182,900 in 2022. This means that more workers will be paying into the system, which is good news for the long-term sustainability of Social Security.
The Social Security Administration has also announced that it will be making changes to the way it calculates benefits starting in 2023. These changes are designed to make benefits more equitable for those who have worked long careers and contributed a lot into the system. For example, one change will eliminate the wage indexing of initial benefits, which currently favors those who start collecting early. Overall, these changes are expected to result in slightly higher benefits for most retirees starting in 2023.
When to claim your benefits?
When you reach your full retirement age, you are eligible to receive your benefits. However, you can claim them as early as age 62. If you claim your benefits before your full retirement age, your benefits will be reduced.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that if you’re receiving Social Security benefits, you can expect a modest increase in your payments next year. This is due to the fact that the cost-of-living index has risen slightly, which means that benefits need to increase in order to keep up with inflation. While this may not be a huge raise, it’s still good news for those who rely on Social Security income.
About Author
