Ways and Means Committee, Social Security Subcommittee, Education and Workforce Committee
Introduced
In Committee
On Floor
Passed Chamber
Enacted
Certainty for Older Living Americans Act of 2021 or the COLA Act of 2021 This bill sets out an alternative method to calculate cost-of-living adjustments for Social Security benefits. The current method is based on the annual change in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, which results in no or small increases to benefits following a year with deflation or low inflation. The alternative method established by this bill is based on a 10-year average of cost-of-living adjustments. The Social Security Administration must use whichever method results in the larger increase for a given year. In addition, the Department of Labor and the Department of Commerce must establish a working group to make recommendations on incorporating specified economic data when producing relevant consumer price indexes.
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Social Welfare
Advisory bodiesCongressional oversightInflation and pricesSocial security and elderly assistance
COLA Act of 2021
USA117th CongressHR-2266| House
| Updated: 3/26/2021
Certainty for Older Living Americans Act of 2021 or the COLA Act of 2021 This bill sets out an alternative method to calculate cost-of-living adjustments for Social Security benefits. The current method is based on the annual change in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, which results in no or small increases to benefits following a year with deflation or low inflation. The alternative method established by this bill is based on a 10-year average of cost-of-living adjustments. The Social Security Administration must use whichever method results in the larger increase for a given year. In addition, the Department of Labor and the Department of Commerce must establish a working group to make recommendations on incorporating specified economic data when producing relevant consumer price indexes.
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.