Social Security recipients are eagerly awaiting the COLA 2026 announcement to know the boost in their payments. If it is increased, it will impact all benefits, SSI, SSDI, retirees, and others. You can check all the information on the Social /Security benefits increase due to the 2026 COLA.
The Social Security Administration annually adjusts the benefit amount based on the Consumer Price Index through COLA to ensure the payment matches the rising inflation and really supports the beneficiaries. The adjustment only boosts or keeps the payment constant.
The COLA 2026 is yet to be announced, as the CPI-W for September 2025 has not been published yet. You can expect the 2026 COLA announcement soon. Over the years, the adjustment has been a boon to millions of beneficiaries in surviving the rising cost of living.
What will be the Cost-of-Living Adjustment 2026?
The COLA adjustment is really important for Social Security beneficiaries with the rising inflation. The cost of living in the US has risen by 2.9% over 12 months ending in August 2025. Social Security recipients are expecting the boost in their payments through the 2026 COLA.
According to forecasts and predictions, the recipients can expect the COLA 2026 to be around 2.6% to 2.8%. Based on the July, August CPI-W and the 2024 third quarter index, the experts believe it will be higher than the 2025 COLA.
The COLA in the past 20 years averaged 2.6%, whereas the highest COLA we have seen in 2023 was after the pandemic. The increase will impact your Social Security payments from January 2026.
How will it impact the retirees?
Retirees wondering about the COLA 2026 impact on their retirement benefit can check their expected payment below based on the prediction:
- If the COLA 2026 is 2.8%, the retirees can expect their average benefit to be increased by $55. The average retirement benefit for the retirees and their families is around $1976 to $2007 per month, and now, with $54 per month, it can rise to $2000 to $2050.
- The retirees with full retirement age can expect their payment to rise to $4500 from $4018 per month, if the increase happens as predicted.
- Retirees who have claimed the retirement benefit late can expect their benefit payment to be higher than the current one.
- Apart from the retirement benefit increase, another thing that retirees should be concerned about is whether Medicare affects their benefits. According to reports, the Medicare premium will rise in 2026, which could affect your retirement benefit, as it will be paid through it.
How will the COLA 2026 impact the SSI & SSDI beneficiaries?
People with disabilities in the US who qualify for Social Security Disability benefits will also see an increase in the SSI and SSDI benefits with the 2026 COLA. Here you can see the COLA 2026 impact on SSI and SSDI payments:
- The SSI is for the elderly or people with disabilities with no or little income or resources. The current SSI payment is $967 for individuals and $1450 for couples, so with the predicted COLA 2026, you can expect your SSI payout to increase by $25 or $30, which is $990 for individuals and $1480 for couples.
- The SSDI payments are for people with disabilities that affect their work. The SSDI payout depends on your average earnings while you were working. The average SSSDI payout is around $1537 per month, and with the prediction of 2.7%, you can expect the payout to increase to $1580 or more, depending on your working history.
When will we have the COLA 2026 official announcement?
The Bureau of Labour Statistics confirmed that they will publish the CPI-W for September 2025 today, on 24 October 2025, at 08:30 AM ET. Once the CPI-W for September 2025 is out, the SSA will have the third quarter 2025 average CPI-W to determine the COLA 2026.
Social Security recipients can expect the COLA 2026 announcement tomorrow or in a few days. The administration has already faced the delay due to the federal shutdown, but recipients do not have to worry about the implementation of the adjustment, as the adjustment to be effective from January 2026.
The SSA has been waiting for the CPI-W for September 2025. Now that we are just a few hours away from its announcement, we can expect the COLA 2026 official announcement soon.
Disclaimer: Details provided relate to the 2026 COLA. Always verify amounts and eligibility through official Social Security resources.
