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Social Security COLA Months

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For certifications effective October through December, after the COLA is announced but before it is paid in January. Find the applicant's Social Security pay date, compare it to the effective date, and see how many months to count at the post-COLA amount. Add the monthly benefit to get the annual figure. The percentage for each year comes from the COLA Increase Table.

Certification

The COLA year defaults to the next one paid. Change it to work an earlier year.

October 1 to December 31.

Applicant's pay date

Social Security is paid on a Wednesday set by birth date, or on the 3rd for people who began benefits before May 1997 or also receive SSI.

Benefit amount (optional)

Add the monthly benefit for the post-COLA amount and the annual total.

$

Before the Medicare premium is deducted, as shown on the benefit letter.

COLA increase

$

When the applicant has their COLA notice, enter the new gross amount. It replaces the estimate.

Months at the post-COLA amount

Payments made in January or later include the COLA. January's payment is the December benefit.

Pay Dates

  • Birth date on the 1st to 10th: paid on the 2nd Wednesday. 11th to 20th: 3rd Wednesday. 21st to 31st: 4th Wednesday.
  • People who began receiving Social Security before May 1997 are paid on the 3rd of the month, whatever their birth date.
  • People who receive both SSI and Social Security get SSI on the 1st and Social Security on the 3rd.
  • A payment due on a weekend or federal holiday is made on the business day before.

Counting Months

  • The COLA takes effect with the December benefit, which is paid in January. Every payment from January on is at the post-COLA amount.
  • If the effective date is before the pay date, the month's payment is still to come, so it is the first of the 12 payments counted. On or after the pay date, it has been received and the 12 payments start with the next month.
  • October: 9 or 10 months at the post-COLA amount. November: 10 or 11. December: 11 or 12.
  • For applicants who also receive SSI, the month's Social Security payment counts as already received on any effective date.

Amounts

  • Use the gross benefit, before the Medicare premium is deducted.
  • The estimate applies the COLA to the current benefit, kept to the cent. The amount on the applicant's COLA notice (mailed in December, and online in my Social Security) is exact and replaces it.

References

  • SSA payment schedule and annual COLA announcement
  • HUD Handbook 4350.3, Chapter 5 (anticipating annual income)
  • For quick reference only; confirm against the applicant's benefit documentation.