Social Security Changes in 2016

No Raise

En español | Social Security beneficiaries won't get a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) because of low inflation. This will be the third time since 2010 that beneficiaries won't get a raise.  

Average Monthly Social Security Benefit

The maximum monthly benefit for workers retiring at full retirement age is $2,639. The average monthly benefit for all retired workers is $1,341.

Goodbye Claiming Strategies

Some popular "file and suspend" claiming strategies that allow married couples to claim larger Social Security benefits than Congress intended will be eliminated. Couples who are eligible now have until the end of April 2016 to enter into a claiming strategy before the loopholes are closed.

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Medicare Premiums Go Up – for Some

With no COLA, 70 percent of Medicare beneficiaries won't see an increase in Medicare Part B premiums. For the rest, though, base premiums are going up from $104.90 to $121.80 per month.

Disability Benefits Secured

The trust fund that pays disability benefits was set to run out of reserves in 2016, triggering a 20 percent cut for the nearly 11 million beneficiaries. Instead, over the next three years, more payroll tax money will be diverted to the disability fund, securing full benefits through 2022.

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