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An 8.7% Social Security cost-of-living adjustment could be possible in 2023, based on government inflation data released on Tuesday.
The estimate comes from The Senior Citizens League, a nonpartisan senior group, which found that increase would boost the $1,656 average monthly retirement benefit by $144.10.
Such an annual increase to benefits would be the highest COLA ever received by most of Social Security’s current beneficiaries, according to The Senior Citizens League.
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It would also be the biggest cost-of-living adjustment in four decades, surpassing this year’s 5.9% boost to benefits.
“Even though it’s not as high as we were predicting back in June, it’s still going to be the highest in four decades,” said Mary Johnson, Social Security and Medicare policy analyst at The Senior Citizens League.
The calculation is based on consumer price index data released on Tuesday, which showed inflation rose 8.3% over the past year as of August amid high energy and food costs.
The Social Security Administration calculates the annual COLA based on a subset of the data, the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, or CPI-W. That increased 8.7% over the past 12 months as of August.
COLA for 2023 is still an estimate
1. September inflation data
The Social Security COLA is calculated by comparing third quarter CPI-W data from the current year to the same three months for the previous year.
Consequently, there is one more month of data to go before the official calculation is made.
How inflation fares in that time will affect the official COLA.
2. Interest rate hikes
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The Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes may have an impact on September inflation data.
In July, the central bank implemented a second consecutive 0.75 percentage point interest rate increase. Another 0.75 percentage point interest rate increase could come later this month.
“That may very much affect some consumer confidence that would affect September,” Johnson said.
3. Medicare Part B premiums
To be sure, just how much extra money Social Security beneficiaries see in their monthly checks next year will also depend on just how much Medicare Part B premiums increase.
Those premiums are often deducted directly from Social Security checks.
This year, the standard Part B premium is $170.10. The Medicare trustees forecast in their annual report released in June that the rate would stay the same in 2023.
The official Medicare Part B premium for the next year is typically announced in November.
