The following was written by Víctor Rodríguez, Public Affairs Specialist at the Social Security Administration.
About 23,000 people of different ages and socioeconomic backgrounds in the U.S. Virgin Islands (and 850,000 in Puerto Rico) qualify for a 5.9% increase in their Social Security benefits in 2022. Federal benefit rates increase when the cost-of-living rises, as measured by the Department of Labor’s Consumer Price Index (CPI-W).
The CPI-W rises when inflation increases, leading to a higher cost-of-living. This change means prices for goods and services, on average, are a little more expensive, so the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) helps to offset these costs.
We will mail COLA notices throughout the month of December to retirement, survivors and disability beneficiaries, in addition to their representative payees (if any). But, if you want to know your new benefit amount sooner, you can securely obtain your Social Security COLA notice online using the Message Center in your my Social Security account at https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount. You can access this information in early December prior to the mailed notice.
If you prefer to access your COLA notice online and not receive the mailed notice, you can log in to your personal my Social Security account at https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount to opt out of a mailed COLA notice and any other notices that are available online by updating your ‘Preferences’ in the Message Center. Did you know you can receive a text or email alert when there is a new message waiting for you? That way, you always know when we have something important for you – like your COLA notice.
January 2022 marks other changes that will happen based on the increase in the national average wage index. For example, the maximum amount of earnings subject to Social Security payroll tax in 2022 will be higher. The retirement earnings test exempt amount will also change in 2022 and you can view that at https://www.ssa.gov/news/press/factsheets/colafacts2022.pdf.
Be among the first to know. Sign up for or log in to your personal my Social Security account today. Choose email or text under “Message Center Preferences” to receive courtesy notifications.
You can find more information about the 2022 COLA at https://www.ssa.gov/cola
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Social Security offices could not receive visitors except for previously arranged appointments on special limited critical situations. However, we continue providing our services by phone and internet. If you have questions on Social Security benefits and services, access https://www.socialsecurity.gov. You could also access our automated services at 1-800-772-1213 or call your local Social Security office between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. To locate the telephone number of your local field office, input your residential zip code at www.ssa.gov/locator/.
