Social Security Recipients to See Slight Bump in Income in 2017

The Social Security Administration has announced that monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for more than 65 million Americans will increase 0.3% in 2017.

The annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is set based on a rise in the cost of living. The government measures changes in the cost of living through the Department of Labor’s Consumer Price Index (CPI-W).

The CPI-W rose this year, indicating prices for goods and services, on average, are a little more expensive. Since the CPI-W did rise, the law increases benefits to help offset inflation.

Other changes that would normally take effect based on changes in the national average wage index will begin in January 2017. For example, the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security payroll tax will increase to $127,200.

Information about Medicare changes for 2017, when announced, will be available at www.Medicare.gov. For some beneficiaries, their Social Security increase may be partially or completely offset by increases in Medicare premiums.