Lost or Tossed Your COLA Letter? Don't Fret, Here's How to Get Another One

If you receive Social Security benefits, you'll receive a COLA letter in December, notifying you of a cost-of-living adjustment and the total amount of benefits you received for the year. If you decide to or need to file your taxes, the COLA letter will be handy to keep around now that tax season is underway. 

The Social Security Administration determines the cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, using the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, which is a measure of the average change in prices for consumer goods and services. The SSA uses the COLA to adjust each year's benefits that are paid to Social Security beneficiaries and Supplemental Security Income recipients.

Don't worry if you tossed or lost your COLA letter. Below, we'll show you how to request another and potentially find it online. For more, don't miss the Social Security payment schedule and the Social Security and SSDI cheat sheet.

I didn't receive my COLA letter. How do I get another one?

COLA notices are typically sent throughout December, so you should have received it by now. If you never received your COLA letter or potentially lost it, don't fret. You can reach out to the Social Security Administration directly and the agent can help you track where the letter is or send out another one if it was lost. 

You can contact the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time. Wait times are typically shorter in the morning, later in the week and later in the month. You can also find a local office to request another COLA letter. 

Is there another way to get my COLA letter?

Yes, but it depends on a couple of factors. By signing up for a My Social Security account, you can access your COLA letter along with several other useful resources. However, if you sign up today in hopes that the COLA notice will be waiting for you when you login for the first time, it likely won't be there. 

The SSA says in order to receive your 2025 COLA notice in your My Social Security account, you would have needed to sign up for a My Social Security account before Nov. 20, 2024. If you didn't, you should reach out to the SSA to have them send you a new one. 

What else can the COLA letter be used for?

When Social Security benefits are the only way you're bringing money in, your COLA letter can also serve as a proof of income statement. It can be used when you apply for loans, energy assistance programs and other services where you'll need to show how much money you're bringing in per month. 

For more, be sure to check out the recently-announced Social Security Fairness Act and why SSDI beneficiaries might need to file taxes this year.