Social Security offices throughout the country, including those in Northeast Ohio, really, and we mean really, want us to conduct our business online at ssa.gov or over the phone.
Forget about stopping by your local office. Starting this month everyone needs an appointment, and you can do that by calling your nearest office or the national phone number at 1-800-722-1213.
A statement from the agency’s regional office in Chicago says no one will be turned away if they are unable or unwilling to make an appointment. They said military personnel, people with terminal illnesses, and individuals with other situations requiring immediate or specialized attention may still walk in for service at local offices. Your best bet: call.
January brings other changes to Social Security and Medicare, most of which have been covered by Thrive’s blogger Brandon Smith, public affairs specialist for the Cleveland office, but are well worth repeating now that the year is underway.
$49. That’s the average increase in Social Security checks, starting this month, due to the 2.5 % cost-of-living adjustment through the Social Security Administration. It’s the smallest increase since 2020. Last year, the COLA was 3.2 %. The average monthly check is now $1,976. For married couples, who will see an average increase of $75, their monthly checks total $3,014.
The Social Security annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2025 is 2.5%, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced. This is the smallest increase since 2020, as expected, and follows an increase of 3.2% in 2024.
The 2.5% increase will translate to an additional $49 for the average retiree, increasing the average monthly check from $1,927 to $1,976, according to the SSA. Married couples will see an average increase of $75, raising their monthly benefit to $3,089 up from $3,014.
For people born between 1955 and 1960, the full retirement age also increases this year to 66 years and 10 months. Last year, for people who turned 66, the FRA was 66 years and 8 months.
And there’s more…
- If you’re still working and are not yet 67 and collecting Social Security, you can earn up to $23,400 in 2025 (it was $22,320 last year) without it affecting your Social Security payments.
- On the Medicare front, the big changes have to do with prescription drugs and out-of-pocket expenses. Medicare is now negotiating directly with drug manufacturers on select high-cost drugs (look for more of this year). Starting in 2025, there’s now a $2,000 cap on out-of-pocket costs for Part D Medicare prescription enrollees. In addition, a new feature called the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan (M3P), lets people split their out-of-pocket costs over the plan year, basically creating predictable, monthly installments to cover their prescription costs.
- Other changes: People with Medicare Part D drug coverage will no longer pay a copayment or have a deductible applied for vaccines such as shingles, whooping cough and others recommended by the federal government’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
- Another result of the Act is that Medicare plans can’t charge members more than $35 a month for their Part D-covered insulin, and there’s no deductible.
- Insulin pump users who get their equipment through Part B’s durable medical equipment benefit also won’t pay more than $35 monthly for their insulin. Medicare Part B plan members may find themselves with lower coinsurance costs for some drugs if their prices have increased higher than the rate of inflation, according to the Medicare website, medicare.gov.
- One more change, effective in 2024 and continuing forward, relates to the Extra Help subsidy for low-income people who earn less than 150 percent of the federal poverty level. The subsidy helps pay for Part D prescription drugs; an expansion to the program capped generic drugs at $4.50 and brand-name drugs at $11.20.To qualify, a single person can’t have a monthly income over $1,903 and resources (cash, IRAs, investments) that don’t exceed $17,220. The limit for a married couple is $2,575 monthly income and $34,360 in resources.Learn more at medicare.gov.
Virginia
Ok, I understand the changes to out of pocket and the less than poverty level but of that whole 49 dollar raise how about counting the 10 dollar raise of payment for part A and B . People think oh you’re getting a raise but don’t understand that retirees also pay 174 a month to have health part A and B then required to have another insurance besides Medicare then on top of this we dish out co pays. Medicare doesn’t pay didly squat, a lot of test and procedures are not “ medically necessary “ so either try to pay out of pocket or just do without. Example: a couple of years ago I had a massive hemorrhage and required 7 units of blood , I still needed more blood but insurance only covers 3 units! Just not medically necessary. Or each month I must sort through medication and decide what I can purchase via co pays and what I just skip for the month. Oxygen they will rent the concentrator with 20 dollar co pay per month but it’s cheaper to just buy the darn thing. I also paid cash for the small portable oxygen, as well as cash for a wheelchair so I’m not just stuck at home 24/7. I retired from being an intensive care Registered Nurse working 12 hour shifts over 40 hours a week. I’d rather work but it’s just not possible to continue in my line of work. Getting old is not for the meek or week, for sure.
Stella Wilson
I don’t think you should be penalized for signing up for the drug plan late.
Gayle E Ebel
I understand that online and over the phone is great , BUT ,no one calls you back when you leave a message ! My sister calling about an ordeal we have with our brother and a MRS. PALMER , HAS BEEN CALLED 3-4 TIMES and my sis has left a message each time with no return call . you ell me whta is wrong with this picture
Joan Cigler
AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! to Stella Wilson…I’ve been saying this exact thing for years!!! Whoever makes these decisions on price increases & benefit cuts should be FIRED & PROSECUTED for elder & handicap abuse!!! (Even if it means getting rid of an entire committee or department.) They obviously make far more income than any of us who are on Social Security; and likely do NOT have to rely on S.S. benefits for handicap supplies &/or medical tests & treatment. Shame on them is NOT enough! Get people at the top who understand & care about the retired American people! The “Good old Boys (& Girls)” in charge do NOT care enough…..I also know many handicap & semi-handicap people who have ALL had to buy their own equipment because S.S./Medicare/ & private insurance put them through so many hoops that it took too long for approvals. They had to rent or purchase at their own expense, in order to have any quality of life, or even just survive. I have already begun to purchase things as I need them, which puts a strain on the low household budge these days.