With increasing inflation in the United States, it is becoming harder for seniors or retirees to afford things they need for daily use, including their medicine or groceries.
To fix this issue, SSI is increasing the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) to help seniors manage their expenses.
This ensures that Seniors and retirees have the support they need and won’t have to rely on others.
To do this, SSI in 2024 is increasing the payments by 3.2% for seniors and other beneficiaries.
This increase of 3.2% is not yet confirmed, as the next COLA will be announced in October 2024. However, it is safe to assume that the COLA will be adjusted to 3.2%.
The COLA is calculated based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), which reflects economic conditions over the past year.
Previously, in 2023, with increasing inflation, COLA was increased by 8.7%, and seniors saw a huge boost in their monthly benefits.
However, this year, while inflation is still increasing in 2024, the COLA has been adjusted to only 3.2%.
Although the amount of 3.2% seems small, it can be a huge boost for seniors and other beneficiaries.
Let me tell you how the benefits will be credited to your account. Those who are retried over the age of 62 and receive a monthly benefit of about $1,336 will get a monthly increase of $50 on their SSI checks.
This additional $50 per month will result in an additional $600 over the year, helping seniors and other beneficiaries cover daily expenses and other needs.
Here are the tips to Maximize your SSI Benefits
To maximize Social Security benefits, retirees have two main options: one before and one after retirement.
Starting early contributions to Social Security taxes and aiming for a high salary can significantly increase the benefits, as they are calculated based on the highest 35 years of earnings.
Alternatively, delaying retirement can also enhance benefits. This is only feasible if you have no medical conditions limiting your ability to work and have alternative income sources.
By postponing your retirement beyond the standard age, the Social Security Administration (SSA) increases your benefits.
For instance, retiring at the “full retirement age” of 67 in 2024 or later at 70 can significantly boost your benefits, with increases of over 100% for those who wait until age 70.
However, those who are already retired and receiving SSI retirement benefits have no option but to increase their monthly SSI benefits, as the increment is based on a COLA adjustment, which completely depends on the government to make any changes.
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