The COLA announcement and payment timing
Social Security's Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2025 was announced in October 2024 and takes effect with payments issued on April 9, 2025. This is the standard announcement date each year — the Social Security Administration releases the COLA percentage in mid-October, and the increase appears in your payment the following April.
The April 9 date applies to most beneficiaries. Your actual payment day depends on your birth date and when you started receiving benefits. If you were born between the 1st and 10th of any month, you receive payments on the second Wednesday of each month — which falls on April 9 in 2025. Other birth dates receive payments on the third or fourth Wednesday.
The COLA is not a one-time bonus. It permanently raises your monthly benefit amount. Every future payment will include this increase, and it also raises the earnings limit for people who work while receiving Social Security before full retirement age.
Key Takeaways
- The 2025 COLA takes effect with the April 9, 2025 payment for beneficiaries born between the 1st and 10th of the month; other birth dates receive the increase on the third or fourth Wednesday of April.
- You do not need to do anything to receive the COLA — it is automatic for all beneficiaries, including retirees, disabled workers, and survivors.
- The COLA percentage was announced in October 2024 and applies to your benefit starting in April, not retroactively to January.
- The increase also raises the earnings limit for people under full retirement age who work while receiving Social Security.
How the COLA percentage is calculated
The COLA is based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), which measures inflation across food, housing, transportation, and other costs. The Social Security Administration compares the average CPI-W for the third quarter of the current year (July, August, September) to the third quarter of the previous year. The percentage increase becomes that year's COLA.
This means the 2025 COLA reflects inflation measured between July–September 2023 and July–September 2024. It does not account for inflation that occurs after September or for inflation that will occur between now and April 2025. The COLA is set once per year and does not change.
If inflation is flat or negative, the COLA can be zero or result in no increase. This has happened only three times since 1975 — in 2010, 2011, and 2016. In those years, beneficiaries received the same payment amount as the previous year.
Who receives the COLA increase
All Social Security beneficiaries receive the COLA automatically. This includes retired workers, disabled workers (SSDI), and survivors of deceased workers. You do not need to contact Social Security, file a form, or take any action. The increase appears in your April payment with no application required.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients also receive a COLA increase, though it is calculated slightly differently and may take effect on a different date. SSI COLA typically becomes effective on January 1 each year, not in April.
If you receive both Social Security and SSI, you will see increases in both programs, but on different schedules. Your Social Security payment increases in April; your SSI payment increases in January of the following year.
What changes besides your monthly payment
The COLA also raises the earnings limit for people who work while receiving Social Security before reaching full retirement age. In 2025, this limit increases from the 2024 amount. If you earn more than the limit in a year, Social Security deducts $1 from your benefit for every $2 you earn above the threshold.
The COLA also affects the substantial earnings test for people who reach full retirement age during the year. This is a higher threshold that applies only to earnings before the month you reach full retirement age. Once you reach full retirement age, there is no earnings limit — you can work and receive your full benefit.
Additionally, the COLA raises the maximum benefit amount for new beneficiaries who claim in 2025. This does not change existing beneficiaries' payments beyond the COLA increase itself, but it sets the ceiling for anyone newly claiming retirement or disability benefits.
Payment dates by birth date
| Birth Date Range | Regular Payment Day | April 2025 Payment Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1st–10th of any month | Second Wednesday | April 9 |
| 11th–20th of any month | Third Wednesday | April 16 |
| 21st–31st of any month | Fourth Wednesday | April 23 |
These payment schedules have been in place since 1997. If you started receiving Social Security before May 1997, you may receive payments on the 3rd of each month instead. Check your Social Security statement or my Social Security account online to confirm your exact payment date.
How to verify your payment amount before April
You can see your projected 2025 benefit amount by logging into your my Social Security account at ssa.gov. This is a free, secure account that shows your earnings record, current benefit amount, and an estimate of what you will receive after the COLA takes effect.
If you do not have an online account, you can call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to ask about your April payment. Have your Social Security number ready. Wait times are typically shorter early in the morning on weekdays.
You can also visit your local Social Security office in person, though appointments are recommended. Office locations and appointment scheduling are available at ssa.gov/locator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I see the COLA increase in my April 9 payment if I was born after the 10th?
No. If you were born between the 11th and 20th, your April payment arrives on April 16 and includes the COLA. If you were born between the 21st and 31st, your April payment arrives on April 23 and includes the COLA. Everyone receives the increase in April, but the exact date depends on your birth date.
Do I have to do anything to get the COLA increase?
No. The COLA is automatic for all beneficiaries. You do not need to file a form, contact Social Security, or take any action. The increase will appear in your April payment without any effort on your part.
What if I work and earn more than the limit — will the COLA change how much is deducted?
The earnings limit itself increases with the COLA, so the threshold you must stay under is higher in 2025 than in 2024. However, the deduction rate stays the same: $1 deducted for every $2 earned above the limit. Check the current year's limit on ssa.gov or call 1-800-772-1213 to confirm the exact amount.
Does the COLA apply to my spouse's or child's benefit?
Yes. If your spouse or children receive benefits based on your Social Security record, their payments also increase by the same COLA percentage in April. This is automatic and requires no separate action.
What if I receive both Social Security and SSI?
Your Social Security payment increases in April with the COLA. Your SSI payment increases on January 1 of the following year with a separate SSI COLA. The two increases happen on different schedules and may be different percentages.