Q:
A: The latest COLA is 4.1 percent for Social Security benefits and SSI payments. Social Security benefits will increase by 4.1 percent beginning with the December 2005 benefits, which are payable in January 2006. Federal SSI payment levels will also increase by 4.1 percent effective for payments made for January 2006. Because the normal SSI payment date is the first of the month and January 1 is a holiday, the SSI payments for January are always made at the end of the previous December. Taken from the Social Security Online website.