Who sends it: Social Security, in December, to people who get benefits.
What this letter is
COLA stands for cost-of-living adjustment. Each October, Social Security announces the yearly raise for people who get benefits. In December it mails each person a notice with their benefit amount for the coming year.
The raise is automatic. You do not need to apply, call or sign anything to get it. If you have a my Social Security account at ssa.gov, you may be able to read your notice early in the Message Center.
How to read the numbers
Because the Medicare premium can rise at the same time, your deposit may go up by less than the raise. The notice shows each step, so read it line by line.
- Your monthly benefit before deductions: the new full amount.
- Medicare premiums: if your Part B premium, and sometimes a drug plan premium, comes out of your check, it is listed here. The Part B premium often changes in January too.
- Tax withholding, if you asked for it.
- The amount you will receive: what should actually land in your bank account.
When the new amount starts
For Social Security benefits, the new amount starts with the payment you get in January. For Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the January payment usually arrives on December 31 because January 1 is a holiday.
This page does not list this year's raise or premium, because both change every year. The current COLA is posted at ssa.gov and the current Part B premium at medicare.gov.
What to do
- Compare the amount you will receive with your January deposit.
- Check that any Medicare premium listed matches your coverage. A higher premium than expected may mean an income-related charge, explained in a separate letter.
- Keep the notice with your tax papers. It does not replace the SSA-1099 tax form that comes in January.
- If something looks wrong, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or visit your local office.
How to tell a real one from a fake
The real notice arrives by mail from Social Security, and you can match it in your my Social Security account. Scammers send texts and emails about a COLA bonus you must claim, or ask you to confirm your Social Security number to get your raise.
Since the raise is automatic, any message asking you to act, sign in through a link, or pay to get it is fake. Report it at oig.ssa.gov.
Have one in front of you?
Take a clear photo and text it to Uncle at +1 208 214 0093. He tells you in plain words what it says, what it wants from you, and anything that looks wrong. How to take a clear photo.
This page explains what this kind of letter usually means. Your letter is the final word on your dates and amounts. For a decision about taxes, health coverage or a legal matter, call the office that sent it, using the number on its official website, or ask a professional you trust.
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Written by the Textuncle team. Last updated October 3, 2026.
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