Social Security Benefit Increases 3.6% for 2012

Monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for more than 60 million Americans will increase 3.6 percent in 2012, the Social Security Administration recently announced

The 3.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits that nearly 55 million Social Security beneficiaries receive in January 2012.

Information about Medicare changes for 2012 haven't been announced yet. For some beneficiaries, their Social Security increase may be partially or completely offset by increases in Medicare premiums.