LANGHORNE, PA – Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-08) announced to constituents that the monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits will increase 2.0 percent in 2018.

“The Social Security Administration’s move to provide a 2.0 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for more than 66 million Americans is important to keep our promises,” said Fitzpatrick. “Whether it is ensuring seniors get the benefits they worked for or expanding access to Medicare for those in need, I am committed to standing up for Bucks and Montgomery county residents.”

The Social Security Act ties the annual COLA to the increase in the Consumer Price Index as determined by the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. The COLA will begin with benefits payable to more than 61 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2018.  Increased payments to more than 8 million SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 29, 2017.  (Note: some people receive both Social Security and SSI benefits).

In August, Fitzpatrick was named a 2017 Champion of Health Care Innovation by the American Life Sciences Innovation Council (ALSIC) for his efforts to protect Medicare and promote quality care for seniors. He is the cosponsor of the FAST Act – H.R.1148, H.R.2556 – Connect for Health Act of 2017, and H.R.807 - Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act of 2017 which benefit seniors, and helped pass bipartisan legislation to keep the private information of senior citizens secure, and raise the COLA for our nations veterans.

Information about Medicare changes for 2018, when announced, will be available at www.medicare.gov. The Social Security Act provides for how the COLA is calculated.  To read more, please visit www.socialsecurity.gov/cola.