2026 COLA Increase: What It Means for Beneficiaries
One of the biggest changes for Social Security recipients in 2026 is the Cost‑Of‑Living Adjustment (COLA). The SSA announced a 2.8 percent increase in benefits starting with January payments — up from 2.5 percent in 2025. This COLA is designed to help benefits keep pace with inflation, especially for essentials like food, housing, and healthcare.
Here’s how that change translates into money:
- The average monthly Social Security benefit is estimated to rise from about $2,015 to approximately $2,071.
- Monthly amounts for SSI recipients will increase as well, with maximum federal SSI payments rising to about $994 for individuals and $1,491 for couples.
This increase is automatically applied; beneficiaries do not need to request it. However, the exact amount of the boost each person receives depends on their specific benefit formula and work history.
The COLA for 2026 applies to retirement, disability, and survivor benefits, as well as SSI. Nearly 71 million Americans are projected to receive Social Security payments with this increased amount.
Why not pay them on their birthdate? I refuse to buy it is too complicated is this completely automated and all that has to happen is input the correct date and have the system update the next time there is an update. It would be simple to put it in the individual account by logging into your account and put in the date
When will I get my check.
Then how come I got my SS check on the 3rd of January which is when I always get it. Not understanding what the 14th has to do either it my birth date is the 2nd of the mint I was born in. So what is all of this about
Notable COLA?? Are you kidding me? Inflation is horrible and I actually end of loosing money with the raises in Medicare costs. Hardly making it