Social Security Recipients to See 2.8% Benefit Increase in 2026
Approximately 71 million Americans who receive Social Security benefits will see a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) reflected in their January 2026 payments, the Social Security Administration announced last month.
The increase, slightly up from last year’s 2.5% but less than the 3.2% boost in 2023, will be applied to Social Security checks issued on the second, third, or fourth Wednesday of January, depending on the recipient’s birth date. A smaller group of 7.5 million Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients will receive the adjustment even sooner, with payments going out on December 31, 2025, due to January 1st being a federal holiday.
On average, Social Security retirement benefits are expected to increase by around $56 per month as a result of the COLA. This adjustment is crucial for seniors and individuals with disabilities relying on these benefits to maintain their standard of living amidst ongoing inflation. Individuals can view the COLA announcement online by creating a my Social Security account at ssa.gov/myaccount. For more information about Social Security benefits, visit the Social Security Administration website.
The agency will begin mailing notices detailing the new benefit amounts to recipients starting in December. Officials stated that the COLA is designed to help beneficiaries keep pace with the rising costs of essential goods and services.
