Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA)

The Social Security Administration recognizes the purchasing power of SSA retirement and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits are eroded due to inflation. With this in mind, the SSA periodically offers a cost of living adjustment (COLA).

According to the SSA, the cost of living adjustment is "based on the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from the third quarter of the last year a COLA was determined to the third quarter of the current year." The SSA does not offer a COLA adjustment every year.

If the SSA is going to offer a COLA it will be published on their official website at www.ssa.gov or you can call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 for more information about any pending COLAs.