Here is How Much Your Social Security Check is Going UP in 2025

Every year, the Social Security Administration adds a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) to your Social Security benefits. It's supposed to closely follow inflation to allow beneficiaries to have income that keeps up with rising costs. In this video, I'll go over the announcement and the context around what this increase means for you.

Here is the release from SSA:

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⏰ TIME CODES ⏰
0:00 2025 COLA
0:30 When changes take effect
0:56 Historical increases
1:16 How COLA is calculated
2:26 2025 Max SS Taxable Earning
5:04 Medicare Implications
6:34 Working Income Limits
7:54 What's Next

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#medicare #theretirementnerds #socialsecurity #retirementnerds #finance

Federal Disclaimer:

[masterlee]

1975 I was 16 in high school and started my first job at National Food Store. I made $2.40 an hour. I remember getting my first check and going ask my Manager "What is all this stuff taken out my check. He said they call it "Taxes" lol. Here I am a million years later watching you on something called "You Tube" still learning stuff. If I start collecting in January my increase will be about $72.00 a month. It really does no one any good to get upset over the small increase, but I know some will. On another note and maybe I missed this in a past video but I now know why you named your other channel "Sodas on the Road" It makes total sense to me now. As far soft drinks I gave them up 18 years ago come November 13th. I replaced them with water. But before that I called them Soda Pops, Soft Drinks, and by their actual names. Great Job Explaining it all as Usual.

[tdelphia]

2.5%. Well, that about covers increases in medicare; what about the REST of the increases in cost to stay alive these days?

[thomaschadwick]

Ever wonder why Advantage Plans are so popular... "2.5% COLA at approximately $50 is a joke. Just found out my supplemental Medicare insurance policy will increase by $48 per month next year. That leaves me a $2 increase. A $10 increase in the Part B premium will yield me a grand total COLA of minus $8. What a plan. "

[bethesda]

You remind me of my Pop, one of the wisest people I ever knew, as he said, money comes and money goes, make sure you have some fun and above all try and help someone every day, as always you have been a great help.

[suemilkbone]

Erik, you did an excellent job explaining COLA as well as the tax changes coming in 2025. You are always clear, thorough and concise in your videos, all of which makes your information easy and enjoyable to watch. My parents are from the Midwest, so we called soft drinks "soda pop."

[RJ-gosn]

Eric, thank you so much for providing us with this info as soon as you have. TRN's videos are always appreciated!!
It was called Pop where I was from early on (MI), but now I live in NC, so I often hear soda!! I don't drink them no matter what they're called!

[wendyneal]

I grew up calling it pop. After moving to the east coast I now call it Soda. My husband grew up in the Midwest and calls everything Coke. Thanks for the great video!❤

[davidjames]

I worked for SSA for 21 years, and constantly heard the mantra "How do you expect me to live on this"? The legislation creating Social Security was passed in 1934; the first payment (to Ida Fuller) was in 1937. At no time (and you can read the whole act if so inclined) was the benefit meant to be a sole source of income. It was to in additon to pensions or other retirement programs. So, no, the program was not meant to be a sole income source from the start. Addtionally, there are few retirement systems which grant COLAs or other payment adjustments during the lifetime of the payments. Social Security is an exception to that. And finally, I could never figure out why there is a divorced spouse benefit. This would be one of the categories that should be considered for removal to help shore up the progam. Just my thoughts.

[anthonygardner]

This video was packed with useful (even if not happy!) information. Thank you. I need to grab a soda and rewatch it to make sure I grasped it all. Enjoy your weekend!

[davidfolts]

Thanks, The Retirement Nerds. The soda jerk name was initially used because a person would jerk the handle when pouring a drink to allow the soda to come out.

[barbarah]

Thanks for the update - I send my friends to your videos when they're trying to figure out Medicare. I grew up in New England and we call those sugary drinks "Tonic." I'm now in California and still call it tonic.

[thomasmoshier]

Love your channel. Always precise and to the point.

[beatrizcoloms]

I really appreciate you providing mee with this information!!!!

[eduardooramaeddie]

Hello 👋 cola 2.5 percent, thank you Eddie

[paulineturski]

Yes, we get an increase, but the supplemental will go up as much as inflation!

[grobannoel]

And my rent is going up $100.00 a month. I make too much for any government assistance but don't make enough to live on. What's the answer.

[tomm]

Thanks for the video, Erik. Soda's the word.

[petrao]

Coke has always been my favorite ! Thank you, Eric.

[jackfrank]

When i was a kid in the New England area, in the 1960's, we called it tonic. I don't hear anyone calling it tonic anymore, soda is the common name now.

[patriciajohnone]

People on Social Security are losing purchasing power because the cola is not keeping up with actual inflation.