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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Janet A.
Despite the increase, the cost of Medicare will go up again and our payment will decrease. We have all paid into Social Security by working and paying taxes. Then the Government slaps us with ultimately less – that is insulting! The Government should freeze ALL pay increases for all those in Congress and give their money to the PEOPLE. Try that for a number of years and help us!
Michael H.
Can’t argue with that…
Jay
Particularly when they have amoebas that have do and continue to do nothing except take kickbacks, do insider trading and collect a salary that is way too high to do nothing. it’s the side that starts with a m.
Dan
why bother? The Cola increase will be gobbled up by Medicare. Worthless!
Alma
Yes. SAY IT AGAIN
Greg
Illegals got THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS – STEALING OUR HARD-EARNED MONEY. 40 YEARS PUTTING IN TO THIS PONZI SCHEME AND NON-CITIZENS COME HERE AND GET MORE THAN ME! SSA YOU ARE CORRUPT AND IF MORE IS NOT ADDED THIS JANUARY THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT WILL HAVE A 100 MILLION DOLLAR LAWSUIT NEXT YEAR!
Deb C.
👍
Jorge B.
Stop believing our criminal corrupt president DJT. & corrupt GOP politicians. Illegal immigrants have no access to SSA payments. Instead believe that illegals that work pay taxes like you & me. We owe the Democratic Party for giving us SSA, MEDICARE & MEDICAID. Something the Republican Party has tried to eliminate from its inception.
Sam
?Check your numbers?
JB
No, they don’t. Research if you know how. SMH
Evelyn D.
Why even bother to give us a raise when it’s so insignificant and you know that you’re going to raise our Medicare up and take back what little bit you give us. I thought that with all the extra money that was saved from tariffs and sending illegals back that we would get a decent raise this year.
Barb K.
I agree with you, Evelyn. Social Security is not giving a 2.8% or a 2.5% increase. How does it help with the cost of living to only be given a 0.1% COLA increase? What an insult and a slap in the face for a senior who has to continue working part time still living paycheck to paycheck? I have never been given an increase that low in my life.
Carlene M.
It’s shame we work hard all are life. Slap in the face to get $56.00. Medicare deductible going up. Medicare monthly premium. I have AARP plan G. That always goes up on anniversary month. We will never get all the money we put into.
Patricia W.
I know all the raises go to increase of Medicare. I draw $90 a month. I wish congress would have to go with pay for months before the could not agree on budget. I bet if it was their money it would be hell to pay.
Bill
Miss. Medicare rates are not set by Social Security Security Administration. They are set by CMS based in the cost of service.
Robert S.
Bill, what are you tying to communicate? That you know something? By your remark you must’ve a government employee, sound like one…
One A.
Yeah, will get a raise and then you’ll give probably half of it to the medical people or a radio way over paid and net 17 or $27 $21 we get whatever it is we feel the repairs back for what the money we didn’t get what Obama was in and where is all that money that they spent did they replace that if we took their paychecks without asking them ask us they lock us up but they took money out of Social Security nobody ever replaced it the day I was looking, I couldn’t find out where they did. I don’t get it they’ll give it to illegals it probably cost more for them to stay one week in a motel in New York or hotel in New York. Then I pay a month for my house plus I give them food stamps they give a bus trip for us all on us I’m 71 years old. I got food stamps twice when I broke my leg and crushed my ankle one week for my insurance started paying and they gave me $67 for medicine and that shit till I retired that I got some food stamps there’s people living in the streets and they’re paying for motels and hotels for people that don’t even live in this country we’re supposed to be in this country , if somebody was incompetent and didn’t know if they were doing that used to lock them up, they stole the American money from the taxpayers from the people you know the people didn’t want it. We were elected President Trump nobody’s really done nothing about it. yeah, it’s kind of insulting , they think we’re stupid that’s why people fed up people are tired of all the bullshit all the car games all the stupid books for gay people gay kids that aren’t even in our country if the gay countries like Thailand, and then places want that but then pay for it why do we have to I love President Trump but we got another president just like him with his term. I think a family are good people I think is light for the best first ladies that I remember you don’t seem like a snob or an airhead or a thief good people not form him , that’s all I got to say but they been doing it to the old people for years and they get people on welfare pay all their rent section 8 dollars and other stuff and then I’ll old people they did nothing for him I don’t want to trade for this country paid the taxes for 60 7080 years and didn’t complain well in the end I guess still have to pay judgment day
Candy
I received a letter and the increase for Jan, 2026 it’s not even close to the $56 that it’s stating here it’s only $10 wow 👍 it should have stood the same.
Barb K.
Did they hurt themselves? I only got a dollar.
Dan R.
Why bother? Any cola increase will go towards
Medicare. Worthless.
sabbir m.
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Corinna
Wow… 2.8% and then Medicare goes up probably 2.7%. What a government racket it is!
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Susan P.
That is very sad one time a year increase for the elderly. Groceries, gas and utilities as well as medical increase every month. Now with the ongoing government shut down effecting the snap benefits to some of the elderly, people will need to make choices again between food and medicine.We are making the White House great again but I am afraid to say that about America. SMH
Corey S.
Say that SHIT 👏💯]
Ken-Sr
This policy benefits past governments. The cola needs to be based the cost of food and housing increases. Not the cost of products most retirees do not buy.
Ms. K.
Amen , that’s not enough to help seniors , the government is not for all …Americans, just 4 the wealthy.. american !! Don’t understands why God allowed the door to open for the ..wicked again , but God knows all things!!!