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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Maria D.
I’m a bit confused about the earnings limit for 2026. According to the SSA publication EN-05-10069 (page 6), it states that “Beginning in 2026, only the annual limit will apply.” This is shown in other places on the SSA website.
However, the 2026 Fact Sheet still shows both the annual and monthly limits without mentioning the removal of the monthly test. I haven’t found a POMS reference yet, but I did notice references to the elimination of the monthly test in different sections of the SSA website.
Could you please clarify this so I can ensure I’m providing accurate information?
Thank you for your help,
Maria
Under full retirement age
$23,400/yr.
($1,950/mo.)
$24,480/yr.
($2,040/mo.)
David L.
How bizarre. I have received my SSA COLA letter and the increase is only 2.1%.
Ricky R.
So exactly how is this $56 increase going to help? The cost of living is through the roof. Food prices aren’t going down. Rent continues to go up. Utilities eat up a good portion, and I don’t know about anyone else but I’m tired of just surviving. If they (the government) really cared they would at least match the actual cost of living and not the 1980’s rates.
Phoebe W.
And Medicare is going up $21.50 a month. What raise ?
George E.
Right on.
My cost of living has. Been has gone up at least 30% this year. How is 2.8?
Percent gonna help. Me make my bills\n I’m 74 years old and still have to work odd jobs. To make my monthly bills and to buy food!.
maria
nice:) Is that location of Washington DC in Israel now?:)
Karla
Omg what a joke!
Maxwell C.
It’s sad how the ones slated to represent you are paid way better than the ones who worked and paid into the system. They tell you what you are able to draw but, they vote themselves A COLA anytime they feel like it. It’s time to start voting a lot of people out. Before you say what if they are worse. Well vote them out too. Don’t stick your head in the sand and expect the issues to go away, look 👀 what it’s got you already.
M. B.
That cola increase affects me and I put into the system for a very long time. I started working at 14 and didn’t stop until I couldn’t work anymore due to disability. So now social security gives me disability payments and those cola increases are not even close to what is needed to make my disability payments sufficient to live on. In a normal situation I have to live in rent income based apartment 700 square feet. You do that and try to survive and still be happy
Bill B.
Salary increases for members of congress should not be decided by members of congress-
Tony
The billionaires got so much money through shady dealing with the government that they could offer $100 million to pay the military while elderly, disabled and children go without food stamps. Billionaires get a big tax cut break, but we can’t even get a decent COLA raise.
It cost taxpayers $70K to deport one illegal immigrant, but there is no money to give us a better COLA raise.
Joseph D.
The REAL cost of living increase is much higher! Plus the increase for Medicare part B is almost the same as this SS COLA ‘raise’. So, we are actually BEHIND in our benefits’ increase matched against the true inflation numbers.
I realize President Trump has a full plate of problems, but it is my hope he will take on this part of his administration and make things right.
Sherry
I guess they cluldnt spare $6 bucks to make ut 1,000 …I worked I wish i still could go to work I found out i have a rare genetic diease to cause me to be disabled i sure didnt ask to be on this getting 967 a month to scrap by on this it a joke what this country is now …giveing other countries billions putting a ballroom in the white house Trump spending billions on it ….Its sad
Nancy F.
Yeah, I will try not to spend that extra $19 all in one place. That will be my net increase after the increase in Medicare Part B. Meanwhile, billionaires get huge tax cuts that we continue to pay for. If the income cap was removed and everyone paid the same percentage of their income for FICA, Social Security would be secure.
Vgirl
There is also a cap on how much you can make on SSA, so if they remove the cap on how much you can make then they would have to pay them much more than the cap amount they pay billionaires. And SSA would still go broke.
PAM
Sorry for your situation. It all sucks for all of us. They should bring everyone up to the actual cost of living for today. The comment about the ballroom, is funded by donations from individuals or corporations. No taxpayer monies are bring used.
Me
It doesn’t matter where the money comes from through the ballroom. He should have never torn down our house again. I say this our house. The White House belongs to the United States of America people, not the president. He had no right to tear that down and no one needs a ballroom. He won’t live that long to even use it and that money that is being used for the ballroom could be used for other things helping the country and the money that he spent on Argentina definitely doesn’t belong in Argentina. It belongs here in our country. We need our people fed. We need our people housed. We need help. They are not under attack and he’s wanting to spend money on them. But he’s now willing to help Ukraine who desperately needs help to survive. So who is he helping besides himself and the Rich people? I guarantee you somebody is going to be living in Argentina
Joe
The ballroom is being built on the East Wing, which was erected in 1947. So, the original White House is NOT being affected. The money given to Argentina is for the purchase of cattle so that we can bring down the price of beef in USA and also help Argentina preserve freedom and steer away from socialism/marxism.
Lorraine L.
I agree
Eileen F.
I know how you feel but all in all I believe we are so much better and safer than we were last year at this time.
Marion M.
We won’t get because Medicare will increase there payments and it comes out of your Social security check so if your lucky you will get see it
Jerry k.
I agree it is a insult congress hot a big raise they want to keep us poverty
Bill
One minor correction to your remarks here. The cost of the New WH Ballroom is not funded by us taxpayers, or through any federal government money dispersements. The Ballroom is being paid for from funds (100%) coming from totally volunteer donations. Please, you should try not to rely on MSNBC or CNN for your sources of news and information. You are ok, we all make mistakes. Wishing you well.
Barbara J.
He shouldn’t be tearing down anything it doesn’t belong to him, no matter where the money comes from. The man is an idiot
He’s not a king nor does he belong there!
Beth
I am pleased of your respectful comment. I will respectfully do the same. I do watch different networks. Not just 1 or 2. With all misinformation and bloviated opinions of network “journalists “; I do study other print media for the information we need desperately. These are a few of the outlets I read. AP, NY TImes. Chicago Tribune, Salt Lake UT outlets as well as TX and FL (not everyday!) Also I don’t scroll through the internet. With that said, all I do is try to use critical thinking to make my own opinion of what I see as my personal truth. The rest I leave to others on their own truth. Please unify our country and speak with kindness and understanding of other’s views. I do need to comment on the destruction of the American citizens House. True that taxpayers are not paying. That would be the easiest to track. But taking donations from FOPOTUS, is far more complex. These donors have multi million contracts with the US. International friends and foes. “You scratch my back…” it’s chilling to look at the donor list and what they’re wanting from our government. It truly will jeopardize our sovereign democracy and the real possibility of losing it.
Cathy
You are very misinformed. Trump is not spending any of the taxpayer money on the ballroom. It is coming from donations only. If you would have read from a reliable source, you would have known that already before posting.
Debra S.
Considering the Real Cost of everything now with inflation at record highs $56. is like a joke. Medicare will go up $10. and my supplement will go up. What raise?
SM
This cost of living does not even cover the inflation of everything else. Beside the rise of medical expenses, there’s food inflation that rose over 50%, gas prices, the tariff’s that have made everything being imported go up, etc.
Hans
You are completely naive if you believe that there are no taxpayer money going into this 200 billion boondoggle! The latest estimate is 300 billion dollars! If you know anything about government projects, there are always revisions! And those cost more money!
Will those fake donors come through for that?
And your Super Hero (DJT) said he would pay into this unnecessary ballroom! Or will he stiff us as he did all those contractors before he became the convicted felon?