The 2026 Social Security COLA will be announced in October 2025

The Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2026 Social Security benefits will be announced on the second Thursday of October 2025. This is when the Social Security Administration releases the percentage increase that will apply to all retirement, disability, and survivor benefits starting in January 2026.

The COLA is calculated using inflation data from the third quarter of the year — July, August, and September. The formula compares the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from the third quarter of 2025 to the third quarter of 2024. Whatever percentage increase that shows is the COLA for the following year.

Your actual benefit amount will not change until January 2026. If you receive Social Security now, you will see the increase in your January payment. If you are not yet receiving benefits, the COLA will be factored into your benefit calculation when you claim.

Key Takeaways

  • The 2026 COLA announcement happens in October 2025 and reflects inflation from July through September 2025.
  • The adjustment applies to all Social Security retirement, disability, and survivor benefits starting in January 2026.
  • COLA amounts vary year to year based on inflation; there is no may provide minimum or maximum increase.
  • Your benefit payment will not change until January 2026, even if the COLA is announced earlier.
  • You can find the official announcement on the Social Security Administration website or by calling 1-800-772-1213.

How the COLA is calculated and why it matters

The COLA protects Social Security benefits from losing purchasing power as prices rise. Without it, the same dollar amount would buy less each year, and retirees and disabled workers would fall further behind. The adjustment is automatic — Congress does not vote on it, and the Social Security Administration does not have discretion to raise or lower it.

The calculation uses the CPI-W, which tracks price changes for food, housing, transportation, medical care, and other goods and services. This index is published monthly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Social Security Administration takes the average CPI-W for July, August, and September, compares it to the same three months from the previous year, and calculates the percentage change. That percentage becomes the COLA.

In years when inflation is low or prices actually fall, the COLA can be very small or even zero. In 2023, the COLA was 8.7 percent because inflation had been high. In 2024, it dropped to 3.2 percent. The 2026 COLA will depend entirely on what happens to prices between now and September 2025.

What happens to your benefit in January 2026

If you are already receiving Social Security retirement, disability, or survivor benefits, your January 2026 payment will include the COLA increase. The Social Security Administration will send a notice in December 2025 showing your new benefit amount. You do not need to do anything to receive the increase — it is automatic.

The increase applies to your primary insurance amount, which is the base benefit you receive each month. If you have dependents receiving benefits on your record — a spouse, child, or parent — their benefits will also increase by the same percentage. If you have already claimed and are receiving a reduced benefit because you claimed early, the COLA still applies to your current payment amount.

If you have not yet claimed Social Security, the COLA will be built into your benefit calculation when you do claim. The Social Security Administration uses your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) at the time you claim, which includes all COLAs from age 60 onward. Claiming later means your benefit includes more years of COLA increases, which is one reason delaying benefits increases your payment.

When to expect the announcement and where to find it

The Social Security Administration announces the COLA on the second Thursday of October each year. For 2026, that date is October 8, 2025. The announcement is made public on the Social Security website at ssa.gov, and major news outlets typically report the number the same day.

You can also call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 to ask about the 2026 COLA after it is announced. If you create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov, you can log in to see your benefit estimate, which will be updated to reflect the 2026 COLA in January 2026.

The announcement includes the COLA percentage and often includes information about how it affects Medicare premiums and other benefit programs. Some people see part of their COLA offset by higher Medicare Part B premiums, though there are rules that limit how much of your increase can be taken by premium increases.

How COLA affects your retirement planning

The COLA is one reason Social Security benefits are more valuable than a fixed pension — your purchasing power is protected as you age. However, the COLA is based on the CPI-W, which may not match your personal inflation experience. If you spend more on medical care than the average retiree, for example, your costs may rise faster than the COLA.

When you are deciding whether to claim Social Security early, at full retirement age, or later, the COLA is part of the math. Delaying benefits increases your payment by about 8 percent per year until age 70, and that higher payment also receives the COLA each year. Over a long retirement, the combination of delayed claiming and annual COLAs can significantly increase your lifetime benefits.

The COLA also affects how much you can earn while claiming Social Security before age full retirement age. The earnings limit changes each year based on the COLA. In 2025, the limit is $23,400 per year; in 2026, it will likely be higher, but the exact amount will be announced along with the COLA.

Understanding COLA in the context of your household budget

For many retirees, Social Security is the largest or only source of income, so the COLA directly affects how much money is available each month. A 3 percent COLA on a $2,000 monthly benefit adds $60 per month, or $720 per year. For someone living on a tight budget, that increase matters.

The COLA is also the only automatic raise most retirees receive. Unlike workers who may get annual raises or bonuses, Social Security recipients depend on the COLA to keep up with rising costs. This is why the announcement in October is watched closely — it tells you what your income will be for the coming year.

If you are still working and paying Social Security taxes, the COLA does not directly affect you yet. However, your future benefit will be calculated using your earnings history adjusted for wage growth, and the COLA will apply to that benefit once you claim.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I find out the 2026 COLA before October 2025?

No. The COLA is calculated using actual inflation data from July through September 2025, so it cannot be known until that data is published. Some financial analysts make predictions based on inflation trends, but these are guesses, not official figures. The Social Security Administration will announce the actual number on October 8, 2025.

What if I disagree with how the COLA is calculated?

The COLA formula is set by law and is not subject to debate or appeal. Congress would have to change the law to use a different inflation measure or calculation method. If you believe the CPI-W does not reflect your actual cost of living, you can contact your elected representatives, but you cannot challenge your individual COLA.

Does the COLA affect Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?

Yes. SSI benefits also receive a COLA each January, calculated the same way as Social Security. However, SSI has a federal benefit rate that is separate from Social Security, so the dollar amount of the increase may be different. Some states add their own supplement to SSI, and those amounts may or may not increase with the COLA depending on state law.

Will my Medicare premium go up if I get a COLA increase?

It may. Medicare Part B premiums are adjusted each year, and the increase is sometimes taken from your Social Security COLA. However, there is a "hold harmless" rule that prevents your Social Security payment from actually decreasing because of a premium increase. If your COLA is smaller than the premium increase, your benefit stays the same and Medicare absorbs the difference.

How far back does the COLA apply if I just started receiving benefits?

The COLA applies only to benefits you receive going forward, not retroactively. If you claim Social Security in November 2025, your first payment in December will not include the 2026 COLA — that takes effect in January 2026. Your benefit will be calculated using the 2025 benefit formula, and then the 2026 COLA will be added starting in January.