1. How is COLA calculated?

First of all, you should know about the CPI-W, also known as the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers. This tool is used to measure price changes and targets some services and goods, including medical care, food, and energy. The CPI-W is reported by the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics every month.

Also, the CPI-W is part of the Consumer Price Index, which is used to measure almost all the prices that are available in retail, and when speaking of inflation and how prices shift according to it, this is the most important number.

The COLA is calculated by the SSA by comparing the average CPI-W for the months of July, August, and September of the current year to the value for the corresponding month of the previous year.

If the predictions are right, the benefits next year will resemble those that took place during the pre-pandemic period when inflation was low.

Between 2000 and 2010, the COLA increased by an average of around 2.2 percent. Since there was no inflation in 2010, 2011, or 2016, there was no COLA. 14.3 percent was the largest adjustment ever; it occurred in 1980.

But let’s find out some things that are good to know before learning more about COLA in 2024.