What the 2026 COLA means for your monthly payment

The Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2026 has not yet been announced. The Social Security Administration calculates it each October based on inflation data from the third quarter of that year, then announces the new amount in mid-October. The 2026 COLA will take effect in January 2026 and will explore to all Social Security payments starting that month.

COLA is a percentage increase applied to your current benefit amount. If inflation has been higher, the percentage goes up. If inflation has been lower or prices have fallen, the percentage may be smaller or zero. The adjustment is automatic — you do not need to do anything to receive it.

The 2026 COLA will affect not only retirement benefits but also survivor benefits (paid to family members of deceased workers) and disability benefits. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments also receive the same COLA increase.

Key Takeaways

  • The 2026 COLA will be announced in October 2025 and will take effect on January 1, 2026.
  • COLA is calculated using the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from July, August, and September of the announcement year.
  • The adjustment applies to all types of Social Security benefits: retirement, survivor, and disability payments.
  • Your new benefit amount will appear on your January 2026 payment; you do not need to take any action to receive the increase.

How Social Security calculates the COLA percentage

The Social Security Administration uses a specific inflation measure called the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). This index tracks price changes for food, housing, transportation, medical care, and other goods and services that working people buy.

The calculation compares the average CPI-W for July, August, and September of the current year to the same three months from the previous year. If the average is higher, that percentage increase becomes the COLA. For example, if the average CPI-W for those three months in 2025 is 3% higher than the average for the same months in 2024, the 2026 COLA would be 3%.

This method has been used since 1975. Before that, Congress voted on benefit increases individually. The automatic calculation means the adjustment happens the same way every year, based on actual inflation data rather than political decisions.

When you will see the 2026 COLA on your payment

Your January 2026 Social Security payment will include the COLA increase. If you receive benefits on the 3rd, 4th, or 5th of the month (depending on your birth date), your first adjusted payment will arrive on your regular payment date in January 2026.

If you also receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), that payment will increase on the same schedule. The increase applies to both your federal SSI amount and any state supplement, if your state offers one.

You will receive a notice from Social Security in December 2025 showing your new benefit amount. This notice, called the Social Security Benefit Statement, will arrive by mail or through your online account at ssa.gov if you have one set up.

COLA history and what past increases have looked like

COLA amounts vary year to year based on inflation. Recent years show the range: 2024 had a 3.2% COLA, 2023 had 8.7%, 2022 had 5.9%, and 2021 had 1.3%. In 2009 and 2010, there was no COLA because inflation was negative or flat. In 2020, the COLA was 1.3%.

The size of your actual dollar increase depends on your current benefit amount. Someone receiving $1,500 per month would see a larger dollar increase from a 3% COLA than someone receiving $1,000 per month, even though the percentage is the same.

COLA does not affect your full retirement age or the age at which you can begin receiving benefits. It only adjusts the dollar amount of the payment itself.

How COLA affects different types of Social Security recipients

If you receive retirement benefits, your monthly payment increases by the COLA percentage. The same applies if you receive benefits as a spouse, ex-spouse, or child of a retired or deceased worker.

If you receive disability benefits (SSDI), your payment also increases by the COLA percentage. Family members receiving survivor benefits on your record — such as a widow, widower, or dependent child — receive the same increase.

If you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the federal benefit amount increases by the COLA percentage. Some states add their own supplement to SSI; those state amounts may increase on a different schedule or by a different percentage, depending on state law.

What to do before the 2026 COLA is announced

You do not need to take action to receive the COLA increase. Social Security applies it automatically to all active benefit payments.

If you do not yet have a my Social Security account at ssa.gov, creating one now allows you to view your benefit statement online and see your new amount in December 2025 before it appears on your January payment. You can create an account using your email address and Social Security number.

If your contact information has changed — your mailing address, phone number, or email — update it with Social Security before October 2025 so you receive your December benefit statement. You can update your information online through your my Social Security account or by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the 2026 COLA be higher or lower than 2025?

The 2026 COLA has not been calculated yet. It will be announced in October 2025 based on inflation data from July through September 2025. You can check the Social Security Administration website in mid-October 2025 for the official announcement.

Does COLA explore if I have not started receiving benefits yet?

COLA only applies to benefits that are currently being paid. If you have not yet begun receiving Social Security, the COLA does not affect your record. When you do begin receiving benefits, future COLA increases will explore to your payment amount.

Can I opt out of the COLA increase?

No. COLA is applied automatically to all Social Security payments. You cannot choose to decline the increase or have it applied differently.

If I work and receive Social Security, does COLA still explore?

Yes. COLA applies to your benefit payment regardless of whether you are working. However, if you are under full retirement age and earn above a certain amount, Social Security may reduce your benefit payment that year. The COLA still applies to your base benefit amount.

How do I find out my exact 2026 benefit amount?

Your December 2025 Social Security Benefit Statement will show your new amount. You can view this statement online through your my Social Security account or wait for it to arrive by mail. You can also call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to ask about your 2026 payment amount.