I have contacted Soc Sec three times and was told each time that the 5.9% cola increase does not go to anyone unless they are already receiving benefits. This information that you are giving people is incorrect. I was born in 1956 and did not receive the increase on my estimated benefit and was told I would not receive it, three times.

Hi. No. I'm a retired Social Security technical expert, and I can assure you that what you were apparently told by the people you spoke with at Social Security is wrong. Social Security retirement benefit rates for everyone born prior to January 2 1960 will include credit for the recent 5.9% cost of living (COLA) increase, regardless of whether or not they were receiving benefits when the increase occurred. For more information on how Social Security retirement benefits are calculated, refer to the following Social Security publication: https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10070.pdf.

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Best, Jerry