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 has announced. The increase is the first since 2009.

The 3.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits to nearly 55 million Social Security beneficiaries in January.  Increased payments to more than eight million SSI beneficiaries will begin shortly before that, on Dec. 30, 2011.

Some other changes that take effect in January of each year are based on the increase in average wages. Based on that increase, the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) will increase to $110,100 from $106,800. Of the estimated 161 million workers who will pay Social Security taxes in 2012, about 10 million will pay higher taxes as a result of the increase in the taxable maximum.

Information about Medicare changes for 2012 is now available at www.Medicare.gov. For some beneficiaries, the Social Security increase may be partially or completely offset by increases in Medicare premiums.

The Social Security Act provides for how the COLA is calculated. To read more, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/cola.