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Social Security 2024 COLA Impact: State-by-State Variations

The Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2024 has been announced, with a 3.2% increase benefiting the program’s 66 million beneficiaries. This COLA adjustment aims to counteract the impact of inflation, ensuring that Social Security benefits maintain their purchasing power. Here’s a breakdown of the 2024 COLA and how it affects retired-worker benefits in different states:

Key Points:

  • COLA Mechanism: Social Security’s COLA is calculated based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), using data from the third quarter of the current and preceding years.
  • 2024 COLA: The 2024 COLA is set at 3.2%, providing a monthly increase in benefits. This is a notable decrease from the 8.7% COLA granted in 2023 but still higher than the 2.6% average observed over the past two decades.
  • Impact on Retired Workers: The typical retired worker will see a 3.2% COLA, resulting in a $59 monthly increase, bringing their estimated January 2024 check to $1,907.

Top 10 States with the Highest Increase:

  1. Connecticut: $2,020.41 ($64.65 increase expected)
  2. New Jersey: $2,020.14 ($64.64 increase expected)
  3. Delaware: $1,998.21 ($63.94 increase expected)
  4. New Hampshire: $1,994.48 ($63.82 increase expected)
  5. Maryland: $1,960.40 ($62.73 increase expected)
  6. Washington: $1,933.04 ($61.86 increase expected)
  7. Minnesota: $1,924.20 ($61.57 increase expected)
  8. Michigan: $1,917.84 ($61.37 increase expected)
  9. Massachusetts: $1,910.33 ($61.13 increase expected)
  10. Utah: $1,900.65 ($60.82 increase expected)

Factors Influencing State Variations:

  1. Earnings History: A worker’s earnings history significantly influences Social Security benefits. States with higher average annual wages tend to have larger Social Security checks.
  2. Full Retirement Age and Claiming Age: The full retirement age and the age at which a beneficiary chooses to claim Social Security also impact benefit amounts. Delaying claims results in increased monthly benefits.
  3. Cost of Living: States with a lower cost of living, like Michigan, can make Social Security dollars go further in retirement.
  4. Retiree Migration: The migration of retirees to more affordable states might explain variations in benefit amounts.

Understanding the factors influencing Social Security benefits helps retirees make informed decisions about their financial well-being in retirement.

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