U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) announced today that Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for roughly 70 million Americans will increase 5.9 percent in 2022. The 5.9 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to more than 64 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2022. Increased payments to approximately 8 million SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 30, 2021.

"For years we have fought to protect and expand Social Security and SSI benefits for America’s seniors. Finally, with an ally like Joe Biden leading the Executive Branch, the Social Security Administration will begin providing a significant cost of living increase beginning next year. Millions of Americans rely on Social Security to survive. So, this almost six percent increase in benefits is a gamechanger for America’s seniors and retirees faced with growing costs,” said Rep. Pascrell a senior member of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security. “Today’s announcement also confirms that the average wage index actually increased by 2.8% during the pandemic, ensuring no American experiences a benefit cut.  While significant, this is no substitute for Congress taking necessary action to pass legislation expanding benefits and ensuring the strength and solvency of Social Security for today’s seniors and generations to come. I am thrilled to announce this news today for our seniors and will continue fighting to reinforce and grow Social Security for centuries to come.”

More information on the coming benefits increase is available on the Social Security Administration’s website.

Rep. Pascrell is an unshakable champion of Social Security in Congress. He is a cosponsor of H.R. 860, the Social Security 2100 Act, which will cut taxes for Social Security recipients, provide a benefit bump for current and future beneficiaries, and keep the system strong for generations to come. This past year, Rep. Pascrell successfully lobbied President Biden to fire the Trump-appointed Social Security Commissioner, whose destructive tenure threatened to end Social Security as we know it.