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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Joe b.
Social security is not a benefit, it is an entitlement do to citizens that payed into it their entire working career. It is a mandatory savings account that belongs to the citizens that payed into it. It is only a benefit received by criminal illegals that never paid a dime into it. There needs to be an option for a total payout of every cent payed into it in a lump sum. After all it’s not the governments money…. period. These cola increases are a joke. They way the government controls the entitled peoples own money is a joke, the loopholes entitled peoples have to go through to get their own money is a joke, the work restrictions put on the people’s entitlement should be illegal and probably is.
Tammy S.
How are we supposed to get money when the government is shut down?
CJ
The cost of living is expected to increase over the years to 2024 – 2025 more than 5% +. Not to mention if you get any kind of food assistance they will deduct more than what you get in increase.
Ronald D.
What a slap in the face for us elderly on social security. We worked all our lives and paid our taxes for over 50 years. The prices of everything goes up double during the Biden administration and has not went down. Gas is at $4 a gallon and insurance has gone up. As soon as we get this so called raise everything will go up again. We just lose more than we get in Janurary of every year and it is just enough to keep us from getting any assistance from any government program
Linda C.
Should have said what usual Medicare fee will be, given it is netted out of Social Security payment.
Tim h.
2.8% will buy 1/2 bag of groceries. I worked 50 yrs having money taken out the government was making a lot more than that on. I should sneak across the border, pretend I’m an illigal, get free social security from Chuck Schumer healthcare, drivers license, food for free, and have thousands of liberal Congressmen dying to give it away.
KayJ
Undocumented immigrants do not receive Social Security, Obamacare, Medicaid or SNAP from the Federal Government. They are generally provided medical care in the case of an emergency and there are programs provided by specific states. But by law they are not eligible for Social Security benefits even though some of the have contributed to the fund.
Scott P.
Will the earned wages cap ($23,400) increase as well?
Jenny
It went up $1,080 from 2024 to 2025. It should go up for 2026, but I haven’t seen it posted anywhere yet. We also don’t know what the Medicare premium will be that’s taken out every month.
Jesse H.
There should be a class action lawsuit filed against the federal government for forcing senior citizens born in America to live in poverty stricken conditions while they spend money helping immigrants housing them, feeding them, giving them cash, giving them food, giving them education while they make their own senior citizens, born in America, live in poverty, strick, and conditions They are criminals for forcing us to live like this.
KayJ
This is not true. Undocumented immigrants do not receive Social Security, Obamacare, Medicaid or SNAP from the Federal Government. They are generally provided medical care in the case of an emergency and there are programs provided by specific states. But by law they are not eligible for Social Security benefits even though some of the have contributed to the fund. Look it up.
Angry P.
KayJ
You are gaslighting people here.
We have seen it with our own eyes. Free housing vouchers for full houses, not hud apartments, ON DAY ONE as they are bussed in to our states, and then given thousands monthly to play with.
Absolutely confirmed many times by many people. And myself.
Dorrie B.
I need Help
Sheila D.
Concerning out Medicare part B premium, its already to high and going over $206. A month taken away from us. And only a 2.8 Cola increase, not not help alot at all. A Rise of cost of everything, especially FOOD, BILLS, ETC:
THESE SO CALLED EXTRA DISCOUNTS IS BULL CRAP AND LOT OF BUSSINESS DO NOT DO THOSE DISCOUNTS.
ALSO COLA INCREASE SHOULD BE 5%.