March 28, 2024

Security

Alter Proposed For Social Protection COLA, And What Increased Inflation Signifies For Medicare And Social Security Beneficiaries

Social Safety beneficiaries probably will obtain the greatest benefit boost in several years when the 2022 COLA is declared later this calendar year.

Social Security, as you know, presents beneficiaries an once-a-year price tag of residing adjustment, or COLA. The COLA is centered on the 12-thirty day period transform in the Shopper Price tag Index (CPI) as a result of September. The Social Safety Administration will determine the COLA in early October.

Private analysts are estimating that, primarily based on the data so far this calendar year and what they anticipate via September, the Social Stability COLA for 2022

2021 Wage Cap Rises for Social Security Payroll Taxes

Starting Jan. 1, 2021, the maximum earnings subject to the Social Security payroll tax will increase by $5,100 to
$142,800—up from the $137,700 maximum for 2020,
the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced Oct. 13. The
SSA also posted a fact sheet summarizing the 2021 changes.

The taxable wage cap is subject to an automatic cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) each year based on increases in the national average wage index, calculated annually by the SSA.


Payroll Taxes: Cap on Maximum Earnings


Type of Payroll Tax


2021 Maximum Earnings


2020 Maximum Earnings

Social Security

$142,800

$137,700

Medicare

No limit

No limit