2026 Social Security COLA Will Be Higher Than Experts Think

6 Things All Retirees Need to Know About Social Security COLAs
Tens of millions of Americans rely on Social Security benefits for a substantial portion of their retirement income. Not only is Social Security a valuable source of retirement income, with the average retired worker receiving about $1,975 per month, but it is also the only inflation-protected source of income many retirees have.
Why your Social Security COLA letter still matters after filing taxes
Even if you've already filed your taxes, your Social Security COLA letter could still be important. Discover why you might need it in the future and how to obtain a replacement if necessary.
Social Security COLA latest prediction for 2026: Bad news for retirees?
The non-partisan advocacy group The Senior Citizens League predicts the 2026 COLA will be 2.1%, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ CPI-W, the index used to calculate the annual increase. December’s CPI-W came in at 2.8%. Getty Images
Prediction: The 2026 Social Security COLA Will Be Higher Than Experts Think
It's far too early to know what next year's Social Security cost-of-living adjustment might be. However, based on several inflation estimates, it's possible to make an educated prediction. In this video, Certified Financial Planner® Matt Frankel discusses what he foresees for Social Security recipients in 2026.
4 most worrisome things for retirees on Social Security as COLA disappoints — and how to prepare for what’s ahead
For retirees, healthcare expenses are unavoidable and increasingly unaffordable. Fidelity Research says a 65-year-old retiring in 2024 can expect to spend an average of $165,000 on healthcare and medical expenses throughout retirement — a 5% jump over the previous year and more than double 2002’s estimate.
Social Security early COLA predictions are in: Will it help or hurt beneficiaries?
Data from TSCL’s 2024 Senior Survey shows 62% of older Americans worry their retirement income won’t even cover essentials such as groceries and medical bills. Will 2026's COLA increase help?
3 Social Security Changes Retirees Need to Know About in 2025
Without Social Security, millions of Americans would be living below the poverty line. With it, many don't -- even though the average monthly retirement benefit of $1,975 (as of December) is not all that huge.
2025 COLA Shortfall: Why Social Security Retirees Are Losing Spending Power
Social Security benefits received a 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in 2025, but for many retirees, this is not enough to keep up with rising prices. Their monthly checks don't go as far as they used to,
Two moves retirees may make now to boost their 2025 Social Security benefit checks
A 2.5% Social Security cost-of-living adjustment is the lowest increase to benefits since 2021. To increase those checks, retirees may consider two money moves.
Social Security has bad news for retirees: COLA’s painful change in February
For retirees, the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) from Social Security is meant to offer some relief as inflation
Social Security Got a Shake-Up in 2025, and 3 Changes May Surprise Retirees
The Social Security program undergoes a series of revisions each year to ensure benefit payments keep pace with inflation and wages. The latest round of revisions took effect in January, and a recent survey published by Nationwide Retirement Institute suggests some of the changes will surprise many Americans.

Social Security payment updates for Feb. 2025

Trump’s federal worker buyout could impact Social Security benefits for millions, senator says
On Tuesday, the Trump administration sent a memo to millions of federal workers offering a “deferred resignation,” which ...
Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Update: Here's the Projected Increase for 2026
By now, all seniors on Social Security should have gotten their first checks for 2025. With the latest 2.5% cost-of-living ...