Social Security Administration announces 2026 COLA benefit increase of 2.8% -- what it means for you

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CNBC

Published Fri, Oct 24 2025 8:48 AM EDT Updated 7 Min Ago


The Social Security cost-of-living adjustment will be 2.8% in 2026, the Social Security Administration said on Friday. Social Security retirement benefits will increase by about $56 per month on average starting in January, according to the agency.

The COLA provides an annual adjustment to both Social Security and Supplemental Security Income to help ensure those benefits keep up with inflation. About 75 million people receive benefit checks from those programs. But for beneficiaries who rely on those payments to cover essential expenses, the size of this year's COLA might not ease their struggle with higher prices...

The Social Security cost-of-living adjustment for 2026 is in line with expert estimates that had projected a 2.7% to 2.8% boost to benefits.

Over the last 20 years, the Social Security COLA has averaged 2.6%, according to The Senior Citizens League, a nonpartisan senior group. The cost-of-living adjustment was 2.5% in 2025.

Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/24/social-security-cola-2026-benefits-increase.html

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From the source - Social Security Announces 2.8 Percent Benefit Increase for 2026 

(most of the Senior-focussed site estimates I had seen were assuming around 2.7%, so a tiny bit better)

Article updated.

Original article -

Published Fri, Oct 24 2025 8:48 AM EDT Updated 2 Min Ago


The Social Security cost-of-living adjustment will be 2.8% in 2026, the Social Security Administration said on Friday.

Social Security retirement benefits will increase by about $56 per month on average starting in January, according to the agency. The COLA provides an annual adjustment to both Social Security and Supplemental Security Income to help ensure those benefits keep up with inflation.

The Social Security cost-of-living adjustment for 2026 is in line with expert estimates that had projected a 2.7% to 2.8% boost to benefits. Over the last 20 years, the Social Security COLA has averaged 2.6%, according to The Senior Citizens League, a nonpartisan senior group.

The cost-of-living adjustment was 2.5% in 2025.

[LiberalArkie]

1. 2.8 % COLA and 12% increase for Medicare. I am glad that food and energy increases do not matter to us seniors.

[progree]

2. Food and energy are included in the CPI that determines the COLA.

It's the CORE CPI that leaves out food and energy, but that's not the one used to determine the COLA.

What both CPI's leave out is actual home ownership costs including prices, mortgage payments, property taxes, home owner insurance and maintenance. Instead they replace that with something called "owner's equivalent rent"
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1116&pid=101079

[Delphinus]

7. Is that for real?

A 12% increase for Medicare? What I read said the Medicare rates would be available late November, so I didn't even go check.

[DPS]

10. Per the CNBC article in the OP:

The standard monthly Part B premium could rise by 11.6% — or $21.50 per month — to $206.50 from $185, according to projections from Medicare trustees. Higher earners may pay additional monthly costs, known as income-related monthly adjustment amounts, or IRMAAs.

[Delphinus]

12. Thank you

I didn't read that. Dang. And somewhere I read (heard?) that ACA charges could go up 30%.

Oh, and welcome to DU!

[PlanetBev]

3. Doesn't matter

The raise in Medicare and Secondary premiums will suck it right up. In the front door and out the back.

[Bayard]

6. This

If we even see it at all.

[twodogsbarking]

4. Let's see, do I want a Mercedes or a BMW?

[BumRushDaShow]

5. Definitely look at a Porche

so that you can flex that muscle car!!11!!1!!!1

[Delphinus]

8. ...

[Mysterian]

9. Not keeping up with inflation

Thanks for nothing.

[niyad]

11. Be still, my heart. A GINORMOUS NINETY-THREE CENTS per day for

someone getting 1k/month (and I know several who are getting far less!!!). Sincefood and utilities and gas alone are wayyyyyy up, that is total bs, especially combined with meducare rate hikes.

But czar krasnov destroyed the East Wing of OUR HOUSE for a fucking wet dream of a phallic enhancer that we are paying for, regardless of all hiis lie

[progree]

13. On a monthly basis, for $1k/mo SS, SS up $28, Medicare premium up $21.50

so $$6.50/mo (22 cents/day) net increase. Of course far below inflation.

[Raftergirl]

14. I am quite fortunate as our SS income is considerable and our Medicare plus our Supplemental and prescription

plan is paid for by my H’s NYS retirement plan. Medicare cost is reimbursed to us through his state pension.

I will donate the additional income from the COLA to our local food bank.

[wolfie001]

16. Excellent!

Us Dems walk the walk! Cheers!

[Marie Marie]

15. To all of you who are complaining about the increase in Medicare:

J.D. Vance wants to know if you ever once said THANK YOU (SIR with grateful tears in your eyes) to Trump for not taking Medicare away completely. These billionaires needed their tax cuts so - we pay!

[wolfie001]

17. "Bend the knee"..........

...........to the fat orange imbecile. He's worse than any of the GOT villains. By a longshot.