You could miss important Social Security notice: what you should do

By Samuel Gonzalez

Nov 16, 2024, 12:19 PM EST

If you are a Social Security beneficiary, you should be aware of an important change coming. In October, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced an increase in the cost of living adjustment (COLA) for the year 2025. Beneficiaries will see a 2.5% increase in their payments next year. However, there is a theme: if you do not register to receive your notification of this adjustment electronicallyyou could lose the notice that corresponds to you.

Each year, the SSA sends paper notices to beneficiaries informing them of the updated amount of their payments after the cost-of-living adjustment has been applied. These notifications will be sent during the month of December.

Nevertheless, if you prefer to see your new payment soon and faster, you must act before November 20 to register for the SSA online service.

Over the years, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has relied on several online tools to facilitate access to information for current and future beneficiaries. The My Social Security account is known. During all this time, this service has not only helped you get news about the annual cost of living adjustment (COLA), it has also allowed you to carry out multiple procedures and procedures related to your benefit account.

However, in recent months, the SSA reported that all beneficiaries and workers with a My Social Security account should switch to a Login.gov session.

If you want to receive the 2025 cost-of-living adjustment notification electronically before anyone elseyou must register for the online service before November 20.

The SSA has warned that if you don’t do it before that date, You will only receive your notice in paper format for Decemberwhich could delay the process and make it difficult to track your updated payment.

The Login.gov online service is completely free and offers a series of useful tools, as was the case with the My Social Security account. For example, you can manage your current benefits or, if you haven’t started receiving them yet, estimate your future payments. Additionally, it allows you to check the status of your benefit application, adjust your account information, and obtain Form 1099 for your tax return. You can even request a replacement for your Social Security card through this service.

If you are already registered for the online service, but are having difficulty accessing your account, the SSA offers assistance through its contact center. You can contact support Monday through Friday, between 8 am and 7 pm Eastern Time, by calling 1-800-772-1213. When calling, just say “Help Desk” in the voice message and you will receive help to resolve any problem.

It is important to remember that if you registered for the online service before September 18, 2021, you will need to transition to a Login.gov account to continue accessing all electronic services. This action is part of an effort to improve security and user experience on SSA systems.

Remember: If you do not receive the online notification for not registering before November 20, you will receive it in paper in December. That is, you just have to be patient and wait a little longer to find out how much money you will receive in 2025, after the COLA adjustment.

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