2026 Social Security COLA Set at 2.7%: Experts Say Retirees Deserve More

2026 Social Security COLA Set at 2.7%: Every​‍​‍​‍​‍​‍​‍ year, the amount of Social Security benefits is changed to match the value of money; this change is the COLA. The computation is based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI‑W) for July, August, and September of the current year versus the same periods of the previous year.

2026 Social Security COLA Set at 2.7%

The official statement by the Social Security Administration (SSA) is expected after the publication of the September 2025 CPI-W data.

When the announcement is made, the increment will be considered from January 1, 2026, for retirement benefits (and December 31, 2025, for some Supplemental Security Income recipients) if the

We were expecting the CPI release and thus the announcement to be on time, but because of a partial U.S. government shutdown, they were both delayed.

What are the current projections and what do they mean in dollar terms?

The most recent forecasts place the COLA at about 2.6 %–2.8 % for 2026. For instance:

The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) is a nonprofit advocacy organization. It forecasts the increase at almost 2.7 %.

There are also some analysts who think the figure might reach 2.8 %.

In the case of a 2.7 % COLA, the average monthly benefit would go up by approximately $54 (from ~$2,008 to ~$2,062) for a typical retired worker.

Why does a seemingly small percentage matter? That is because the majority of retirees are dependent on Social Security for the major part of their income thus, even an extra few dollars can be of significant ​‍​‍​‍​‍​‍​‍help.

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Why some retirees wish the COLA would be higher?

Although​‍​‍​‍​‍​‍​‍ the projected raise is a good thing, a considerable number of retirees are still worried that it might not be sufficient. These are the reasons why:

2026 Social Security COLA Set at 2.7%: Increasing Costs

While overall inflation has eased, the prices of some very important cost categories for seniors (health-care, housing, prescription drugs) have been going up even faster than the overall inflation.

The main reason for that is that COLA is based on CPI-W (which shows the spending patterns of urban wage earners/clerical workers) that is not representative of senior‐specific inflation and that does not take into account the changes in weights, thus a lot of older people perceive that their expenses are increasing faster than what is officially reported.

Increased monthly Social Security income for many individuals might be completely negated by the higher premiums for healthcare programs like Medicare Part B, or other deductions. One of the commentaries quoted that “what should be a raise often becomes a wash”.

Retirees who have a limited budget may barely have any room for additional expenses (emergency repairs, increasing taxes, inflation on everyday items). So, they wish that the COLA was higher so that they could have some “breathing ​‍​‍​‍​‍​‍​‍room”.

What to Keep an Eye On?

The​‍​‍​‍​‍​‍​‍ September 2025 CPI-W release: The official 2026 COLA will be based on this.

What are your personal cost drivers? In case your largest expenses are going up at a higher rate (for instance, health care, rent), you should keep track of them.

Health care premiums and contributions: A larger COLA is not an outright indication of a higher standard of living if you have to spend more on other costs.

Planning for the future: Assuming that Social Security is the main source of your income, you should figure out how to manage during the years when the COLA will be ​‍​‍​‍​‍​‍​‍small.