The May 14 payment date and what it covers
On May 14, 2024, Social Security sent out a payment that included the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for that year. The COLA is a percentage increase applied to all Social Security benefits to account for inflation. The amount you received depended on when you were born and which payment group you fall into — not everyone gets paid on the same day of the month.
If you received a payment on May 14, it reflected your regular monthly benefit plus the COLA increase for 2024. The 2024 COLA was 3.2 percent. This means if your monthly benefit was $1,000 before the adjustment, it became $1,032 after the COLA took effect.
The May 14 date applies specifically to people born between the 11th and 20th of any month who receive Social Security retirement, survivor, or disability benefits. If you were born on a different date, your payment arrived on a different day — either May 3 or May 22, depending on your birth date.
Key Takeaways
- The May 14 payment included your regular benefit plus the 2024 COLA increase of 3.2 percent, which was announced in October 2023.
- Payment dates vary by birth date: people born the 1st–10th get paid on the 3rd Wednesday, those born the 11th–20th on the 4th Wednesday, and those born the 21st–31st on the 5th Wednesday of each month.
- You can check your payment history and see the exact COLA amount applied to your account through your my Social Security account online.
- If you did not receive a payment on May 14 when you expected one, contact Social Security directly rather than waiting, as payment delays can signal a problem with your account.
How the COLA is calculated and announced
The COLA percentage is set once per year, in October, based on inflation data from the previous months. The Social Security Administration announces the new COLA in mid-October, and it takes effect the following January for most people. However, the first payment that includes the new COLA amount arrives in May, because Social Security processes the adjustment in the background and then pays it out with your regular monthly benefit.
The 2024 COLA of 3.2 percent was lower than the 2023 COLA of 8.7 percent, which had been the largest increase in four decades. COLA amounts change year to year based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), which measures inflation across a range of goods and services.
You do not need to do anything to receive the COLA. It is applied automatically to your account. The only reason to check is to verify that the amount shown in your payment history matches what you expected.
Checking your payment history and COLA amount
The easiest way to see the exact COLA increase applied to your account is to log into your my Social Security account at ssa.gov. Once you are signed in, go to the "Payments" section and select "View payment history." You will see each payment listed by date and amount.
If you compare your April 2024 payment to your May 2024 payment, the difference should be roughly 3.2 percent of your April amount (the actual difference may be a few dollars more or less depending on rounding). For example, if your April payment was $1,000, your May payment should have been around $1,032.
If you do not have a my Social Security account, you can create one at ssa.gov using your email address and Social Security number. You will need to verify your identity through an identity verification service. If you prefer not to use the online account, you can call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 and ask a representative to read your payment history to you.
What to do if you did not receive a payment on May 14
If you expected a payment on May 14 and did not receive it, do not wait several days hoping it will arrive. Contact Social Security when ready. Delays in Social Security payments are unusual and often signal a problem — a missing or incorrect direct deposit account, a hold on your account, or an issue with your may be able to access that needs to be resolved.
Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778 for deaf and hard of hearing). Have your Social Security number and bank account information ready. A representative can tell you whether the payment was sent, where it was sent, and what to do next. If the payment was sent to the wrong account, Social Security can sometimes recall it or issue a replacement payment.
If you receive benefits through a representative payee (someone who manages your benefits on your behalf), contact your payee first to confirm they did not receive the payment. If they did not, then contact Social Security together.
COLA and how it affects your future payments
Once the COLA is applied to your account in May, it becomes your new baseline benefit amount. Every payment you receive from that point forward will be based on this higher amount. The COLA does not expire or reset — it stays with you for life.
If you are still working and your earnings affect your benefit (because you have not yet reached full retirement age), the COLA increase is applied first, and then any earnings-related reductions are calculated on top of the new amount. This means the COLA helps offset some of the impact of the earnings test.
Future COLA increases will be added on top of the 2024 amount. For example, if the 2025 COLA is 2.5 percent, it will be applied to your May 2024 benefit amount, not to your original benefit from before the 2024 COLA.
Understanding payment dates by birth date
Social Security spreads payments across three days each month to manage the volume of transactions. The schedule is based on your birth date, not on when you started receiving benefits:
| Birth Date Range | Payment Day |
|---|---|
| 1st–10th of any month | 3rd Wednesday of each month |
| 11th–20th of any month | 4th Wednesday of each month |
| 21st–31st of any month | 5th Wednesday of each month |
In May 2024, these dates fell on May 1, May 8, and May 15 respectively. However, if the payment date falls on a weekend or federal holiday, Social Security sends the payment on the business day before. This is why some people may have received their May payment a day or two early.
If you are unsure which group you fall into, check your my Social Security account or call 1-800-772-1213. Your representative can confirm your payment date for the rest of the year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my May payment look different from my April payment?
Your May payment included the 2024 COLA increase of 3.2 percent. This is a one-time annual adjustment that takes effect in May. Your April payment was based on your benefit amount from the previous year. The difference between the two should be roughly 3.2 percent of your April amount.
Can I opt out of the COLA increase?
No. The COLA is applied automatically to all Social Security benefits and cannot be declined. It is a permanent increase to your benefit amount.
Does the COLA affect Medicare premiums?
Yes. Medicare Part B and Part D premiums are adjusted each year, and the COLA can affect how much of your Social Security benefit goes toward these premiums. Some people are protected by "hold harmless" rules that limit how much their Social Security payment can decrease due to premium increases, but this depends on your situation.
What if I think the COLA amount applied to my account is wrong?
Check your payment history in your my Social Security account to see the exact amount. If it does not match what you expected, contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 with your payment history in front of you. A representative can review the calculation and correct any errors.
Will there be a COLA increase in 2025?
Yes. The 2025 COLA will be announced in October 2024 and will take effect in January 2025, with the first payment including the increase arriving in May 2025. The amount depends on inflation data and will not be known until the announcement.