Social Security COLA for 2022

October 14, 2021

Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for approximately 70 million Americans will increase 5.9 percent in 2022.

The 5.9 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to more than 64 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2022. Increased payments to approximately 8 million SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 30, 2021.

The maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) will increase to $147,000. The earnings limit for workers who are younger than "full" retirement age (see Full Retirement Age Chart) will increase to $19,560. (There is a deduction of $1 from benefits for each $2 earned over $19,560.). The earnings limit for people reaching their “full” retirement age in 2022 will increase to $51,960. (There is a deduction of $1 from benefits for each $3 earned over $51,960 until the month the worker turns “full” retirement age.) There is no limit on earnings for workers who are "full" retirement age or older for the entire year.