Social Security COLA 2023: What you need to know

It’s official: This year’s Social Security cost of living adjustment (COLA) is the biggest in over 40 years: 8.7%. With inflation still at highs not seen for decades, the 2023 Social Security COLA aims to reflect current prices. In general, the Social Security cost of living increase is based on consumer price index numbers, so as costs rise, so does the COLA. 

The Social Security COLA may be good news for seniors, but it’s not a total solution for retirement expenses. If you’re setting goals for retirement savings, consider your income streams and how you’ll spend money after quitting your job. Inflation and other factors can impact your investment returns and your retirement.

What is the Social Security COLA 2023?

On October 13, 2022, the Social Security Administration (SSA) released its cost-of-living bump for 2023. Beginning in January 2023, Social Security recipients will enjoy an 8.7% increase in their monthly payments. What does that mean?

Social Security benefits are based on a formula that includes how many years you were in the workforce and how much you earned during those working years. Inflation—a general rise in the prices of the things we buy—is a regular part of the economic cycle. To account for that, each year the Social Security Administration reviews consumer prices and adjusts the monthly benefit.

How is the Social Security cost of living increase calculated?

The COLA benefits increase is calculated using a formula determined by Congress. Here are the basics of calculating the COLA:

• The inflation measure used is the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).
• The CPI-W measures the average prices for consumer goods and services that wage earners can expect to see in urban areas.
• The average CPI-W from the third quarter of the previous year is compared with the current year.
• If the current year’s calculation is higher, there’s a cost of living increase, expressed as a percentage.
• The increase is typically announced in mid-October for Social Security benefit payments beginning in January of the following year.

Long-standing concerns about how long Social Security will remain solvent have prompted various suggestions to change the COLA calculation. Proposals include making reductions or using a different version of the consumer price index.

Does the Social Security COLA reflect senior spending realities?

Although the 2023 Social Security COLA is the largest since 1981, it doesn’t necessarily mean that seniors will be able to keep up with their expenses. According to advocacy group The Senior Citizens League (TSCL), Social Security benefits have lost 40% of their buying power since the year 2000.

Part of the issue, according to policy analysts at TSCL, is that the CPI-W may not accurately reflect costs faced by retirees. Seniors are seeing daily living expenses rise faster in certain areas that might not be included in the formula that determines the Social Security benefits COLA.

Medical care and housing expenses are among the biggest cost increases to seniors on Social Security, but they are underweighted in the CPI-W, according to the TSCL. As a result, even with a benefits COLA, many retirees are unlikely to keep up with their increased costs if they rely heavily on Social Security.

Retirement goals and Social Security COLA

When considering how to approach your retirement goals, you should account for Social Security COLA as an inflation countermeasure. But don’t assume that an increase in your monthly benefit will translate to covering your expenses. 

Social Security should comprise only part of your retirement income. Even though the cost of living increase can help you keep pace with some expenses, it likely won’t shield you completely from inflation risk. 

If you have a retirement fund and/or other investments, think about how your portfolio is structured.  Although many retirees shift away from stocks to bonds and other fixed-income securities, which have historically been less risky, fixed-income returns have a hard time keeping pace with inflation. Stocks are generally more risky, but they tend to outperform bonds over long stretches. So, if you expect a long life in retirement, keeping some of your portfolio in the stock market can help you stay ahead of inflation in the long term.  

If you’re still working and earning an income, now’s the time to be thinking about other retirement income streams, such as investing in an annuity or even a rental property. Putting together a good mix of income sources can help you reach your retirement goals and increase the chances that you’ll outlive your money.

Can you rely on Social Security benefits in the future?

No matter your age, the concern about overreliance on Social Security is very real. This has been a topic of conversation among policymakers for decades. There’s a chance that Social Security benefits will be cut, or could even disappear at some point.

When planning your own retirement, think carefully about how you can build a nest egg and multiple streams of income. With long-term planning, Social Security benefits can become the cherry on top, rather than your main source of retirement income.

The bottom line 

This year’s Social Security benefits COLA is the largest in decades. However, that doesn’t mean everything will work out for your budget. Consider speaking with a financial professional about how you can protect your portfolio and meet your financial goals. Keep reading Britannica Money for retirement articles that can help you put together a long-term strategy that doesn’t rely too heavily on Social Security benefits.