$600 Social Security Boost in October 2025? Officials Say No

$600 Social Security in October 2025: A rumor has been spreading online saying that Social Security beneficiaries will get an extra $600 every month starting October 2025, but this is not true. The claim keeps showing up on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram, with messages like, “NO WAY! TRUMP GIVES SENIORS $600 SOCIAL SECURITY BOOST – AND CLEANS HOUSE AT THE FED IN MONUMENTAL POWER MOVE.”

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The Social Security Administration (SSA) has confirmed that there is no such monthly boost planned. In a previous blog post, the SSA clearly said, “Any information regarding a current $600 increase is false and should be ignored.” Recipients are warned not to trust these viral posts or social media chain messages.

Social Security in October 2025: What to Expect

The confusion seems to come from the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) that happens every year. COLA is meant to make sure Social Security payments keep up with inflation. Experts predict the 2026 COLA will be about 2.6%, slightly higher than the 2.5% adjustment in 2025.

Even though 2.6% could add up to around $624 in a year for someone who gets $2,000 per month, it does not mean $600 extra every month. COLA adjustments are announced in October and take effect in January of the next year.

The COLA is calculated using the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). Officials compare prices from the third quarter of the year to the same period in the previous year. The percentage change determines the new adjustment. This system has been in place since 1975 to make sure Social Security does not lose value during inflation.

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Why is the Rumor Spreading?

Some people probably misunderstood how COLA works. The total annual increase for a retiree can reach over $600 for the year but it is spread over 12 months not given as a monthly bonus. In years with low inflation the increase is smaller like the 1.3% adjustment in 2021.