The Social Security cost of living adjustment (COLA) for 2025 has been released. It includes a 2.5% rise in benefits for everyone who gets them. Almost 71 million Americans will be affected by the huge change.
The growth is less than in years past, like the 8.7% adjustment in 2023 and the 3.2% adjustment in 2024.
Because of this, retirees’ Social Security payments will rise by the same amount in every state, and the COLA for 2025 will not be changed to reflect changes in different states.
Social Security announced the new 2.5% COLA increase and these are the affected programs
The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) is used to figure out the COLA, which shows changes in inflation.
Graphs from the third quarter of one year are shown next to graphs from the third quarter of the next year. This measure is made by the Bureau of Labour Statistics in the Department of Labour.
It is important to remember that Social Security recipients get the same percentage rise in their payments no matter where they live.
This is because the COLA is applied the same way all over the country. Once the new cost of living adjustment is made public, the following Social Security services will be affected:
- Retirement benefit program
- Survivor benefit program
- Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- Medicare
How much will Social Security checks increase with the new 2.5% cost of living adjustment?
Many people who get monthly benefits may be thinking how this 2.5% increase will affect their payments starting in January 2025 now that the COLA increase for 2025 is over.
According to the Senior Citizens League, the 2.5% COLA raise is in line with what they thought would happen. Here are the approved Social Security payments for each program for the next year:
| Retirement benefits | Social Security checks | 2.5% COLA increase | Extra income |
| On average | $1,900 | $1,948 | $48 |
| Age 62 | $2,710 | $2,778 | $68 |
| Age 67 | $3,822 | $3,918 | $96 |
| Age 70 | $4,873 | $4,995 | $122 |
| Survivor benefits | Social Security checks | 2.5% COLA increase | Extra income |
| On average | $1,505 | $1,543 | $38 |
| Individual | $1,773 | $1,817 | $44 |
| 2 Children | $3,653 | $3,744 | $91 |
| Disability benefits | Social Security checks | 2.5% COLA increase | Extra income |
| On average | $1,537 | $1,575 | $38 |
| Blind recipients | $2,590 | $2,655 | $65 |
| Maximum payment | $3,822 | $3,918 | $96 |
| SSI benefits | Social Security checks | 2.5% COLA increase | Extra income |
| On average | $698 | $715 | $17 |
| Individuals | $943 | $967 | $24 |
| Couples | $1,415 | $1,450 | $35 |
| Essential person | $472 | $484 | $12 |
How much will SNAP benefits increase with the cost of living adjustment boost?
Along with Social Security benefits, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will also see their monthly benefits go up by 2.5% because of the latest COLA rise.
With this in mind, American households and people who are eligible for these benefits will start getting the following amounts in January 2025:
| Household size | SNAP benefits | SNAP benefits (Including 2.5% COLA) |
| A single person | $291 | $298 |
| 2 people | $535 | $548 |
| 3 people | $766 | $785 |
| 4 people | $973 | $997 |
| 5 people | $1,155 | $1,184 |
| 6 people | $1,386 | $1,421 |
| 7 people | $1,532 | $1,570 |
| 8 people | $1,751 | $1,795 |
Do not forget that people who want to join this program must show that they have a low income. If they are approved for monthly benefits, the SNAP program will pay them based on how many people live in their home.
If you want to know more about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), you should always check out the website for the US Department of Agriculture. There you can find all the information you need, including how much each state pays each month.
