The 2026 COLA will be announced in October 2025

The Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2026 Social Security benefits will be announced on October 10, 2025. This annual adjustment raises the monthly payment amount that all Social Security beneficiaries receive, starting in January 2026. The exact percentage increase depends on inflation data collected from July through September 2025, so the specific number cannot be known until that announcement date.

The COLA is calculated by the Social Security Administration using the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). If inflation has been higher over the summer months of 2025 than it was during the same period in 2024, your benefit will increase by a corresponding percentage. If inflation has been lower, the increase will be smaller. There is no COLA if inflation has declined, though this has happened only once since 1975.

You do not need to do anything to receive the increase. If you are already collecting Social Security, the higher amount will appear in your January 2026 payment automatically. The Social Security Administration will mail a notice to all beneficiaries in December 2025 showing the new payment amount.

Key Takeaways

  • The 2026 COLA percentage will be announced on October 10, 2025, and reflects inflation measured from July through September 2025.
  • The increase applies automatically to all Social Security beneficiaries starting with the January 2026 payment — you do not need to take any action.
  • Recent COLA increases have ranged from 1.3% to 8.7%, depending on inflation in each year.
  • The COLA affects not only retirement benefits but also survivor benefits and disability benefits (SSDI) paid to the same beneficiary.
  • Medicare Part B premiums are also adjusted each year, and the premium increase may offset part of your COLA benefit increase.

How the COLA is calculated and why it varies year to year

The Social Security Administration calculates COLA by comparing the average Consumer Price Index for the third quarter (July, August, September) of the current year to the average for the same three months of the previous year. If the 2025 average is 3% higher than the 2024 average, for example, all benefits increase by 3% in January 2026.

The variation from year to year reflects real changes in the cost of living. In 2024, the COLA was 3.2%. In 2023, it was 8.7% — the largest increase in four decades, driven by high inflation in 2022. In 2022, it was 5.9%. In 2021, it was 1.3%. These swings show why the exact 2026 figure cannot be predicted: it depends entirely on what happens to prices between July and September 2025.

The CPI-W measures price changes for food, housing, transportation, medical care, and other goods and services that wage earners and clerical workers buy. It does not measure prices that retirees specifically face, which is a limitation many experts have noted — retirees spend more on medical care and housing, for instance, than the average wage earner. But the law requires the Social Security Administration to use this index, so it remains the basis for all COLA calculations.

What the 2026 COLA increase will and will not cover

The COLA increase applies to your primary insurance amount — the base monthly benefit you receive. If you receive $1,800 per month and the COLA is 3%, your new benefit will be $1,854 per month starting in January 2026. This increase is permanent and carries forward into all future years.

The increase also applies to any family members who receive benefits based on your work record. If your spouse receives a spousal benefit or your child receives a survivor benefit, their payments increase by the same percentage. If you are deceased and your family members are collecting survivor benefits, their payments increase by the COLA as well.

However, the COLA does not protect you from all cost-of-living increases. Medicare Part B premiums (which cover doctor visits and outpatient care) are adjusted separately each year, and the premium increase often takes a portion of your COLA raise. In some years, the premium increase has been large enough to leave beneficiaries with little or no net increase in take-home income. Additionally, the COLA does not account for state and local taxes, property taxes, or utility costs specific to your area.

When you will see the 2026 increase in your payment

The first payment reflecting the 2026 COLA will arrive in January 2026. If you receive benefits by direct deposit, the money will appear in your bank account on your regular payment date in January. If you receive a paper check, it will be mailed according to your birth date schedule (the Social Security Administration staggered payment dates so not all beneficiaries receive checks on the same day).

The Social Security Administration will mail a notice in December 2025 to every beneficiary showing the new monthly amount, the COLA percentage, and the effective date. You can also view your updated benefit amount in your my Social Security account online at ssa.gov starting in early January 2026.

If you have not yet claimed Social Security but plan to in 2026, the COLA does not affect your decision. Your benefit amount is calculated based on your earnings record and the age at which you claim, not on the COLA. However, if you delay claiming past your full retirement age, your benefit increases by 8% per year until age 70, which is separate from the COLA.

How the 2026 COLA compares to recent years

The COLA has varied significantly over the past decade. From 2009 to 2020, most years saw increases between 0% and 2.8%, reflecting low inflation. In 2021 and 2022, inflation rose sharply, producing COLA increases of 5.9% and 8.7%. In 2023, the COLA was 3.2%, and in 2024 it was 3.2% again. These recent years show that COLA can swing widely depending on economic conditions.

The 2026 COLA will depend on inflation trends in the second half of 2025. If inflation remains moderate, the increase may be in the 2% to 3% range. If inflation accelerates, it could be higher. If inflation slows further, it could be lower. The Social Security Administration does not publish predictions, and private forecasts vary widely.

What happens to your Medicare premiums when COLA increases

Medicare Part B premiums are set each year based on expected costs for the coming year. The premium for 2025 is $174.70 per month for most beneficiaries (higher-income beneficiaries pay more). The 2026 premium has not yet been announced and will not be until November 2025, after the COLA is known.

In some years, the Part B premium increase has consumed most or all of the COLA increase. This happened in 2016, when the COLA was only 0.3% but the Part B premium rose. In other years, the COLA has been much larger than the premium increase, leaving beneficiaries with a substantial net gain. The relationship between the two is unpredictable and depends on separate calculations.

If you are enrolled in Medicare Part B and receive Social Security, the premium is deducted from your benefit payment. Your net increase in January 2026 will be the COLA amount minus any increase in your Part B premium. You will see both figures on your December 2025 notice.

Planning around the 2026 COLA announcement

If you are currently receiving Social Security, the COLA increase is automatic and requires no action on your part. You may want to update your household budget in January 2026 to reflect the higher payment amount, but that is optional planning, not a requirement.

If you are not yet receiving Social Security and are considering when to claim, the 2026 COLA does not change the math. Your benefit is locked in based on your earnings record and your age when you claim. Waiting until after the COLA announcement in October 2025 does not change your benefit amount — only your age and earnings record affect that calculation.

If you have questions about how the COLA will affect your specific situation — for example, if you are also receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or if you have dependents collecting benefits on your record — you can contact the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 or visit your local Social Security office. The agency can explain how the increase applies to your household.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I find out the 2026 COLA before October 2025?

No. The Social Security Administration does not announce the COLA until October 10 of the preceding year. Private economists and news outlets sometimes publish predictions based on inflation trends, but these are estimates, not official figures. The actual COLA depends on final inflation data released in September 2025.

Will the 2026 COLA affect my Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage?

Medicare Part D premiums are set by individual insurance plans, not by the Social Security Administration, so they are not directly tied to the COLA. However, some plans adjust premiums annually based on expected costs, which may or may not align with the COLA. You will receive a notice from your Part D plan in October 2025 showing any premium changes for 2026.

What if I am still working and receiving Social Security in 2026?

The COLA increase applies to your benefit regardless of whether you are working. However, if you are under full retirement age and earn above the annual earnings limit ($23,400 in 2024, adjusted yearly), Social Security will withhold $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above that amount. The COLA increases your benefit amount, but the earnings test may still reduce your payment.

Does the COLA explore to Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?

Yes. SSI recipients receive a COLA increase in January, though the amount may differ slightly from the Social Security COLA because SSI has a separate federal benefit rate. Your SSI notice in December 2025 will show your new payment amount for January 2026.

If I claim Social Security in 2026, will my benefit include the COLA?

Your benefit will be calculated based on your earnings record and your age at the time you claim. The COLA does not directly affect the calculation. However, if you delayed claiming past 2025, your benefit will be higher than it would have been if you had claimed in 2025, because of the delayed retirement credits you earn for waiting. The COLA is separate from that increase.