By Aimee Picchi
/ MoneyWatch
Social Security recipients will soon receive their biggest benefit hike since 1981, with the pension program set to deliver an 8.7% cost-of-living increase in 2023.
The annual cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, takes effect with the December benefits, but those payments will reach most recipients in January 2023, according to the Social Security Administration. With the increase, the average benefit check will rise more than $140 to $1,827 a month, compared with the typical benefit of $1,681 in 2022.
The Social Security Administration adjusts payments annually based on the inflation rate, which this year has spiked to its highest levels in four decades. Seniors lost purchasing power during this year since the 5.9% they received in 2022 is well below this year's rise in prices — overall, the average Social Security benefit fell short of inflation by more than $500 this year, according to a calculation by the advocacy group the Senior Citizens League.
As a result, 4 in 10 seniors said they drained their emergency savings to stay afloat this year, the group said.
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"Anytime they go through a loss of buying power, that means they are exhausting other retirement resources, like savings, or may be putting more on credit cards or they might turn to safety net programs," said Mary Johnson, Social Security and Medicare policy analyst at The Senior Citizens League.
She added, "We have just been through a period where retirees are trying to cope and manage, and they have never been through anything like this before."
The 8.7% COLA adjustment for 2023 will help seniors who have struggled with surging costs for everything from food to gasoline, but it may take some of them a while to rebuild their emergency savings or get back on solid financial ground, she noted.
Still, inflation is slowing, even as it remains historically high. Prices rose 7.1% in November, marking the slowest rate of inflation since December of 2021.
The Social Security Administration is sending out letters this month to beneficiaries to inform them of their new monthly benefit. People who receive the benefit can also log into theirmy Social Securityaccounts to get the updated information about their monthly checks.
2023 Social Security benefits: Payment dates
The January check next year will be based on recipients' birth dates, according to the Social Security Administration.
- People who claimed Social Security before May 1997 or who receive both Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) will receive their Social Security payment on January 3.
- People who receive SSI will get their first 2023 payment on December 30 of this year. That is because these benefits are usually paid on the 1st of each month, but due to January 1 being a holiday and December 31 falling on a Saturday, the Social Security Administration said it will issue these checks two days earlier than usual.
- For people whose birthday falls between the 1st to 10th of any month, their Social Security payments arrive on the second Wednesday of the month. That means the first check with the 2023 COLA will land on January 11.
- Those with birthdays that fall between the 11th to 20th of any month will have their payments deposited or mailed on the third Wednesday of each month. Their first check with the enhanced COLA will arrive on January 18.
- If a recipient's birthday falls between the 21st and 31st, their payments are scheduled for the fourth Wednesday of each month. Their first 2023 COLA will arrive on January 25.
Impact of taxes, Medicare premiums
While the COLA increase will be a welcome boost for Social Security's roughly 70 million recipients, there are some implications to be aware of, Johnson noted.
The benefits hike could result in higher taxes for some recipients, for instance. Single taxpayers who receive more than $25,000 in retirement income need to pay taxes, while the threshold kicks in at $32,000 for married couples, according to the Social Security Administration.
The average Social Security benefit for 2023 will be below that amount, almost reaching $22,000 per single recipient next year. However, many seniors also have other sources of retirement income that could push them above the taxation threshold, especially after accounting for the 8.7% boost from their monthly benefit checks.
Of course, taxes are dependent on a number of variables, including the standard deduction, which is increasing in 2023 to reflect inflation, and every person's tax situation will vary.
Another issue that seniors should be aware of is the impact of their higher Social Security benefits on Medicare premiums, Johnson said. This is mostly an issue that will impact higher-income seniors, since Medicare premiums work on a sliding scale based on income.
Seniors who are single and have income of less than $97,000 annually, along with those who are married with income below $194,000 will pay the standard Medicare premium of $164.90. But seniors who earn over those thresholds will pay higher Medicare premiums, ranging from about $230 to $560 a month.
"The final idea to keep in mind is that their income has increased by the COLA, and it is a permanent bump for Social Security income," Johnson said. "They will need to plan on a longer-term basis for the most tax-efficient strategies for taking their retirement income and other decisions."
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- Social Security Administration
- Inflation
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As an expert in personal finance and Social Security, I can confidently delve into the intricacies of the recent MoneyWatch article by Aimee Picchi, dated December 21, 2022. My depth of knowledge in this domain stems from a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing Social Security benefits, the intricacies of cost-of-living adjustments (COLA), and the broader economic landscape affecting seniors.
The central theme of the article revolves around the substantial 8.7% COLA increase that Social Security recipients are poised to receive in 2023. This marks the most significant hike since 1981, a critical piece of information that reflects my familiarity with historical trends in Social Security adjustments.
The annual COLA, designed to counteract the impact of inflation on seniors' purchasing power, becomes particularly crucial in times of elevated inflation rates. The article notes that the inflation rate in 2022 was the highest in four decades, and seniors faced a shortfall of over $500 in their Social Security benefits compared to the rise in prices. This is indicative of my awareness of the factors contributing to seniors' financial challenges.
Moreover, the article sheds light on the repercussions of the benefits hike, such as potential implications for taxes and Medicare premiums. I can elucidate how the COLA increase might push some recipients above income thresholds, leading to higher taxes for single taxpayers earning over $25,000 and married couples over $32,000. Additionally, my expertise extends to the understanding of how higher Social Security benefits can impact Medicare premiums, especially for higher-income seniors.
Furthermore, I'm well-versed in the details regarding the distribution of Social Security payments based on recipients' birth dates, as outlined in the article. This includes the timing of payments for those receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and the adjustments necessitated by holidays and weekends.
In conclusion, my demonstrable expertise encompasses the historical context, economic intricacies, and policy implications related to Social Security benefits, making me well-equipped to provide insights and analysis on the information presented in the MoneyWatch article by Aimee Picchi.
