October 16 marks a milestone for millions of United States citizens who rely on Social Security for their livelihood. Today, beneficiaries of the program will get payments adjusted for the annual cost-of-living increase (COLA) for 2024, an adjustment that reflects an effort to alleviate the effects of inflation, although expectations about its effectiveness remain a matter of debate.

The COLA increase for this year has generated both relief and criticism. On the one hand, those who rely on these payments have seen a slight increase in monthly amounts, a step toward offsetting prices that continue to rise, especially in food and energy. However, despite the 3.2% adjustment, many argue that the increase does not cover enough to offset the full inflation hit, which has left some recipients feeling dissatisfied.

Today’s payments will be no higher than previous ones, with a maximum of up to $4,873 for those with the longest contribution time. The amount we get in October will be the same as in previous months this year. This payment, the highest available to those who qualify, is a relief, although it is known that it will not definitively resolve beneficiaries’ financial challenges. The adjusted COLA payments also reflect ongoing market fluctuations and government policies that seek to maintain the purchasing power of the most vulnerable Americans.

Who gets Social Security with COLA 2024 today?

Today, October 16, the adjusted 2024 COLA payments affect millions of Social Security beneficiaries, including retirees, people with disabilities, and survivors of deceased workers. The increase applies to those who get monthly payments through the program, which includes not only those in full retirement but also those with disability benefits, survivor pensions and other categories of Social Security support.

Citizens who will get Social Security payments with today’s COLA 2024 are those who:

1. Have a Social Security check from after May 1997.
2. Have a birthday between the 11th and 20th of any month.

It doesn’t matter what type of benefit, just as it doesn’t matter how much we get each month. However, for those who qualify, the increase in this COLA 2024 can be significant, with payments varying according to the type of benefit and the beneficiary’s years of contribution.

In general, those with more years of contributions to the system will see a higher payment, while beneficiaries with less contribution time will experience a proportionately smaller increase. This adjustment is intended to help mitigate the effects of inflation, especially in basic expenses such as food, medicine and utilities.

What will Social Security’s 2025 COLA be?

The 2025 COLA has already been confirmed and will apply a 2.5% increase to Social Security payments. This adjustment, while lower than the 2024 COLA, is still crucial to help beneficiaries maintain their purchasing power in the face of rising costs. For next year, the maximum check will reach $5,180 for those with longer contribution histories, a significant increase over 2024.

Although the increase is more moderate, the decrease in the percentage is justified by a slowdown in inflation compared to the previous year. However, many continue to express concern that even this Social Security COLA increase will not be enough to cover the full impact of price increases in essential products such as food and housing, highlighting the limitations of the system in the face of global economic changes.