The Social Security COLA for the 2026 benefits will be announced soon based on inflation. Many expats and analysts have predicted the COLA 2026 increase. Let’s see how much boost you can expect in your Social Security payments.
Social Security 2.7% Increase from January 2026
The Social Security Administration annually adjusts Social Security benefit payments based on the cost of living. The COLA adjustment only keeps the payment constant or increases it; it never decreases the payment based on inflation.
Every year, Social Security recipients eagerly wait for the COLA announcement based on last year’s third quarter and the current year’s third quarter data. The September 2025 CPI-W data is yet to be out, hence the calculation is yet to be carried forward.
However, based on the inflation data of the past month, many forecasts have been made on the COLA 2026. The current projection for the COLA 2026 is 2.7% based on the Q3 2025 CPI-W from the Senior Citizens League.
What will be your Social Security benefits payment?
With a 2.7% COLA 2026 prediction, recipients can expect an increase of $54 in their Social Security payments. The increase in your Social Security benefit payments will be reflected from January 2026.
Retirees can expect their annual payment to increase by $640 through the projected COLA adjustment. For instance, you can check the expected social security boosts from January 2026 below:
- The maximum retirement benefit under the 2025 COLA 2.5% rate is $4018; with a 2.7% COLA in 2026, it can increase to $4500 for retirees.
- The Supplemental Security Income can increase from $967 for individuals to $1100, and from $1450 for couples to $1500.
The Social Security Administration will announce the fact sheet with the COLA 2026 adjustment, which will have the information on the increased payout for all benefits, along with any other changes to the income threshold for benefits.
When will SSA publish the COLA 2026?
The Social Security Administration calculates the Cost-of-Living-Adjustment based on the Q3 2024 and Q3 2025 CPI-W average. The CPI-W data for September 2025 will be released soon by the BLS at the beginning of October 2025.
After the September 2025 CPI-W data is released, the SSA will calculate the COLA 2026 and announce it. Generally, the administration announces the COLA every year in mid-October, so you can also expect the announcement to be made at the same time.
What was the Social Security Increase or COLA over the years?
The Social Security Administration has begun calculating the COLA to estimate the yearly adjustment to the Social Security benefits. The calculation was first time started in 1975, when the first COLA was 8.0%, and now we have reached the year 2025.
In recent years, the highest COLA was in 2022 (8.7%) after COVID, considering the cost of living. After the COLA rate of increment was decreasing, it was followed by 3.2% and 2.5% in 2025. Now, the current prediction of 2.7% has brought a great boost as it is breaking the pattern and increasing the rate from last year.
To understand the COLA over the years, you can check the COLA for the past five years below and get an idea of the increase:
| Year | COLA % |
| 2020 | 1.3 |
| 2021 | 5.9 |
| 2022 | 8.7 |
| 2023 | 3.2 |
| 2024 | 2.5 |
What are the other expected changes in Social Security in 2026?
With the expected 2026 COLA adjustment, Social Security recipients can also expect some changes in their benefits from 2026. Let’s explore the upcoming Social Security changes that every recipient should know:
- In March 2025, the President signed an executive order that says no more paper checks will be used for government benefits payments. The authorities have until 30 September 2025 to follow the executive order. So, go for direct deposit or a Direct Express card to receive your Social Security benefit payment from October 2025.
- Social Security payroll taxes can increase for Americans to manage wage inflation. The current taxable earnings for Social Security are $176,100; they will be increased from 2026.
- The full retirement age for people born in 1960 will be 67, meaning you can receive 100% of your retirement benefit from 2027.
The Social Security payment increase is important for retirees, survivors, and other beneficiaries in the increasing inflation. Hence, keep an eye on the SSA official channels, as in the coming two weeks, you will have the COLA 2026 for your benefits.
Disclaimer: The 2.7% Social Security COLA increase from January 2026 is for informational purposes only. Actual benefits and eligibility are determined by the SSA.