The 2026 Social Security increase is set by a formula tied to inflation, not by Congress
Every year, Social Security adjusts benefit amounts based on the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA). This number is calculated from inflation data collected during a specific three-month window — July, August, and September of the prior year. The adjustment takes effect in January of the following year. For 2026, the increase will be based on inflation measured in summer and fall 2025.
The exact percentage for 2026 has not yet been announced because inflation data from mid-2025 does not yet exist. The Social Security Administration will publish the official 2026 COLA figure in October 2025. Your January 2026 benefit check will reflect whatever that percentage turns out to be.
This is different from a raise you might negotiate at work. Social Security does not decide to give you more money. Instead, a mathematical formula — one written into law — automatically recalculates your benefit based on how much prices rose during that three-month measurement period.
Key Takeaways
- The 2026 Social Security increase will be announced in October 2025 and will take effect on your January 2026 payment.
- The increase is calculated from inflation data collected in July, August, and September 2025, so the exact percentage is not yet known.
- If inflation is lower in 2025 than it was in 2024, your 2026 increase will be smaller than your 2025 increase.
- You do not need to do anything to receive the increase — it happens automatically if you are already receiving benefits.
- The increase applies to retirement, survivor, and disability benefits, but not to Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which has a different adjustment method.
How the COLA formula works and why it changes year to year
The COLA is based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), a measure of inflation published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Social Security 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 your benefit increase.
The COLA can vary widely from year to year. In 2024, the COLA was 3.2 percent. In 2023, it was 8.7 percent — the largest increase in four decades, driven by high inflation in 2022. In 2022, it was 5.9 percent. In 2021, it was 1.3 percent. The formula has no floor and no ceiling; if inflation is zero or negative, the COLA can be zero or negative, though negative adjustments are rare and have never actually occurred in practice.
Because the 2026 COLA depends entirely on inflation data from mid-2025, you cannot know the exact number until October 2025. Economic forecasters may publish predictions, but those are estimates, not guarantees. The actual figure will be whatever the inflation data shows.
What happens to your benefit check in January 2026
If you are already receiving Social Security retirement, survivor, or disability benefits, your January 2026 payment will automatically include the 2026 COLA increase. You do not need to contact Social Security, submit paperwork, or take any action. The increase is applied to your account without any step on your part.
Your benefit statement, which you can view online through your my Social Security account at ssa.gov, will show your new benefit amount once the COLA is announced in October 2025. If you do not have an online account, you can call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to ask about your new amount.
The increase applies to your full monthly benefit. If you receive other benefits tied to your Social Security amount — such as Medicare premiums that are deducted from your check, or state supplements — those will be recalculated as well. Your net payment (the amount you actually receive after deductions) may be different from the gross increase if your deductions also change.
Who receives the 2026 increase and who does not
The 2026 COLA applies to anyone receiving Social Security retirement benefits, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), or survivor benefits (payments to your spouse, children, or parents based on your work record). If you are already on the rolls in January 2026, you will receive the increase automatically.
The COLA does not apply to Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a separate program for people with low income and limited resources. SSI has its own adjustment method, set by Congress, and is not tied to the same inflation formula. If you receive SSI, you will not see an increase based on the Social Security COLA.
If you are not yet receiving benefits but will start in 2026, your benefit amount will be calculated using your earnings record and the rules in effect at the time you file. The COLA does not affect the calculation of a new benefit; it only adjusts benefits already in payment.
How the 2026 increase compares to recent years
The size of your 2026 increase depends on inflation in mid-2025. If inflation remains moderate — roughly in line with the Federal Reserve's target of around 2 percent annually — the 2026 COLA will likely be smaller than the 3.2 percent increase you received in 2026. If inflation rises, the COLA could be larger. If inflation falls, the COLA could be smaller.
For context, here are the COLA increases from recent years:
| Year | COLA Increase |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 3.2% |
| 2023 | 8.7% |
| 2022 | 5.9% |
| 2021 | 1.3% |
| 2020 | 1.3% |
The 2023 increase was unusually large because inflation spiked in 2022. The 2024 increase was smaller because inflation had cooled. The 2026 increase will follow the same pattern: it will be whatever inflation was in summer and fall 2025.
When you will see the 2026 increase on your check
Social Security benefit payments are made on a schedule based on your birth date. Most people receive their payment on the second, third, or fourth Wednesday of each month. Your January 2026 payment — whichever Wednesday that falls on — will include the COLA increase.
If you receive your benefits by direct deposit, the new amount will appear in your bank account on your regular payment date. If you receive a paper check, it will arrive by mail on your regular payment date. There is no delay; the increase takes effect immediately in January.
You can confirm your new benefit amount by logging into your my Social Security account after October 2025, when the COLA is announced. If you have questions about your specific payment date or amount, you can contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or visit your local Social Security office.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the 2026 increase be bigger or smaller than 2025?
That depends on inflation in mid-2025. The Social Security Administration will announce the exact 2026 COLA in October 2025. If inflation is lower than it was in mid-2024, the 2026 increase will be smaller than the 2025 increase. If inflation is higher, the 2026 increase will be larger.
Do I need to do anything to get the 2026 increase?
No. If you are already receiving Social Security benefits, the increase is automatic. It will appear on your January 2026 payment without any action on your part. You do not need to contact Social Security or file any paperwork.
What if I start receiving Social Security in 2026?
Your initial benefit amount will be calculated based on your earnings record and the rules in effect when you file. The COLA does not change how your first benefit is calculated. Once you are on the rolls, future increases will follow the COLA formula.
Does the 2026 increase apply to SSI?
No. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) has a separate adjustment method set by Congress and is not tied to the Social Security COLA. If you receive SSI, you will not see an increase based on the 2026 COLA announcement.
When will Social Security announce the 2026 COLA?
The Social Security Administration announces the COLA for the following year in October. The 2026 COLA will be announced in October 2025. You can find the announcement on the Social Security website at ssa.gov or by calling 1-800-772-1213.