Social Security payments in the U.S. will be going up 2.8% in 2026.
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The U.S. government has announced a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) of 2.8% for Social Security payments next year. The increase will result in about $56 more per month, on average, for retirees starting in January, according to the U.S. Social Security Administration.
The COLA adjustment is designed to ensure that Social Security and Supplemental Security Income keep pace with inflation. About 75 million Americans receive Social Security benefits each year. Social Security is the primary source of income for about 40% of elderly Americans, according to the U.S. government.
As Expected
The latest Social Security cost-of-living adjustment is in line with estimates, with analysts having projected a 2.7% to 2.8% increase for 2026. Over the past 20 years, the Social Security COLA adjustment has averaged 2.6%. The cost-of-living increase for 2025 was 2.5%.
“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 latest data showed that inflation rose an annualized 3% in the U.S. during September.
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