Social Security Announces 2.8 Percent Benefit Increase for 2026
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: October 24, 2025
Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments for 75 million Americans will increase 2.8 percent in 2026. On average, Social Security retirement benefits will increase by about $56 per month starting in January.
Over the last decade the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increase has averaged about 3.1 percent. The COLA was 2.5 percent in 2025.
Nearly 71 million Social Security beneficiaries will see a 2.8 percent COLA beginning in January 2026. Increased payments to nearly 7.5 million people receiving SSI will begin on December 31, 2025. (Note: Some recipients receive both Social Security benefits and SSI).
“Social Security is a promise kept, and the annual cost-of-living adjustment is one way we are working to make sure benefits reflect today’s economic realities and continue to provide a foundation of security,” said Social Security Administration Commissioner Frank J. Bisignano. “The cost-of-living adjustment is a vital part of how Social Security delivers on its mission.”
Some other adjustments that take effect in January of each year are based on the increase in average wages. For example, the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) is slated to increase to $184,500 from $176,100.
Social Security begins notifying recipients about their new benefit amount by mail starting in early December. Those who have a personal my Social Security account can view their COLA notice online, which is secure, easy, and faster than receiving a letter in the mail. You can set up text or email alerts when a new message–such as your COLA notice–is available in your my Social Security account.
You will need to have a personal my Social Security account by November 19 to see your COLA notice online. To get started, visit www.ssa.gov/myaccount.
Information about Medicare changes for 2026 will be available at www.medicare.gov. For Social Security beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare, the 2026 benefit amount will be available via my Social Security’s Message Center starting in late November. Those who do not have an online my Social Security account will receive their COLA notice by mail in December.
The Social Security Act provides for how the COLA is calculated. The Social Security Act ties the annual COLA to the change in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) as determined by the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. You can find more information about the 2026 COLA here.
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Dianna B.
Last year with suite increase, it cost me more money after insurance got their raise. Sounds like this year’s so call increase is going to cost me more money
ALEJANDRO G.
I get 1,265 ,my rent is 1,050 . I don’t have much left over.
Gloria G.
Wow, a $56 increase! Will that actually make a difference with inflation? Honestly, when I got a small raise last year, rising costs swallowed it up immediately. It felt like I was still behind. Anyone else find that a small gain disappears quickly? By the way, have you ever played basket random ?
Cathy
Same here this is not enough to survive a month for 2 people with the prices for food today
Doc H.
Thanks to illegal aliens who get free health care, we now can’t afford ours
Robert S.
All Americans and anyone not here legally only get care for emergencies. Emergency room only. The Americans without insurance dwarfs the illegals going into ER due to the fact they are afraid of being identified and sent back. So majority of the expense is Americans that cannot afford health care. I believe we should crack down on illegals getting any benefits that take away from us citizens. Only exception is emergency care. Especially for children.
Tony
Republicans will hurt their own voters just to get back at the Democrats. If they remove federal funding for hospital, then their uninsured voters won’t be able to go to the emergency room. Once the Republicans doesn’t pass the ACA healthcare premium tax credit, there will be millions more uninsured Republicans.
Tony
Do you really believe the insurance companies are raising rates due to illegal immigrants or for bigger profit?
Progressive auto insurance raised auto rates so much in Florida that they have to refund $1 billion to their customers. The Florida Republicans sold us out to the insurance companies where all the insurance companies are near or above the profit cap. Soon the Florida Republicans might raise the profit cap where no one can afford insurance. Then the Florida Republicans will blame it on the illegal aliens.
Tony
Illegal aliens don’t get the ACA Healthcare premium tax credit, but the enrollees are 45% Republicans and 35% Democrats. Republicans have more to lose than Democrats and Georgia is a poor red states with a lot of poor Republicans. Why do you think Marjorie Taylor Greene is for extending the ACA healthcare premium tax credit?
Republicans who retire at age 62 on social security can’t get Medicare or Medicaid until 65. The only cheap insurance is the ACA Healthcare Marketplace. A Republican male age 62 receiving only $2000/month in social security retirement can get $1400/month in ACA healthcare premium tax credit to help pay for the insurance.
Virginia B.
The cost of living has gone up much more than 2.8 percent. This doesn’t help those of us who are trying to survive and afford to pay rent/mortgage, utilities, and food.
Cathy
Same here this is not enough to survive a month for 2 people with the prices for food today
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Good blog! The information shared on blog.ssa.gov is highly informative and helps readers understand important social security updates clearly. It’s a great resource for staying informed about benefits, policies, and useful tips for managing social security needs.
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Robert
I get 1,548..00 a month I have hard times to pay bills an pay rent not leave food out how can one live like this 😩
Quacy M.
The only time Keyshawn pinkard is show up when I’m about to get payed from my payee eulick pinkard. For social security identity theft
Don. F.
I only get 913 a month I live on partial retirement