Goodbye to Social Security notices if you don't do this: retirees who must do this for their checks by Nov. 20

The Social Security Administration announced the 2025 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increase in October. Beneficiaries will see their payment amount boosted by 2.5% next year to avoid benefits losing purchasing power.

While overall American seniors rely on Social Security benefits for a little less than a third of their income, for 12% of men and 15% of women it makes up at least 90%. When living on a fixed income it’s important to budget so seniors will want to know the amount they’ll be receiving each month from the SSA.

For that reason, the Social Security Administration sends out paper notices each year to inform beneficiaries of their new payment amount with the year’s COLA applied. These will be delivered throughout December. But if you want to see yours sooner, you’ll have to do the following by November 20 if you haven’t already.

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Goodbye to Social Security notices if you don’t do this: retirees who must do this for their checks by Nov. 20

The Social Security Administration over the years has been launching more and more online tools that current and future beneficiaries can use to make life easier. These can be accessed via the ‘my Social Security’ app. The online service also provides Social Security beneficiaries with notices, like the annual cost-of-living adjustment.

However, if you want to receive your notification for 2025 online you will have to be signed up to the service by November 20 warned the SSA in this year’s COLA announcement.

The service is free and provides users with a number of helpful tools. You can manage your current benefits, or for those who haven’t started receiving Social Security, estimate future benefits.

It also allows you to check the status of an application for benefits, adjust information for your account as well as get a 1099 tax form to file taxes. You can even request a replacement Social Security card through my Social Security.

Note, if you signed up before September 18, 2021, you will be required to transition to a Login.gov account to continue having access to the online services.

If you have trouble logging into your My Social Security account you can contact the help desk which is available Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 am and 7 pm ET at 1-800-772-1213. When you call, at the voice prompt say, “Help Desk.”

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