The Social Security Administration announces the 2026 COLA in October 2025

The Social Security Administration (SSA) releases the annual Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) announcement in October each year. For 2026, that announcement will come in October 2025. The SSA bases the COLA on inflation data from the third quarter — July, August, and September — and publishes the exact percentage increase before the end of that month.

The announcement tells you what percentage your Social Security benefit will increase starting in January 2026. The SSA does not choose this number; it is set by law based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). If inflation was higher in the summer of 2025 than it was in the summer of 2024, your benefit goes up. If inflation was lower, the COLA is lower — and in rare years when prices fell, there is no increase at all.

You do not need to do anything when the announcement comes out. The SSA automatically applies the COLA to your benefit in January 2026 if you receive Social Security retirement, disability, or survivor benefits. Your January 2026 payment will reflect the new amount.

Key Takeaways

  • The SSA announces the 2026 COLA in October 2025, based on inflation data from July through September 2025.
  • The COLA percentage is determined by law using the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, not by SSA decision.
  • The new benefit amount takes effect automatically in January 2026 for all Social Security recipients.
  • You can find the announcement on the official Social Security website (ssa.gov) or through your local Social Security office.

How the COLA is calculated and why timing matters

The COLA formula compares the average CPI-W for July, August, and September of the current year to the same three months of the previous year. The SSA receives the final inflation data in mid-September and has the calculation complete by early October. The announcement date is typically the second Tuesday of October, though the exact date can shift slightly depending on the SSA's schedule.

The timing matters because people who receive Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and certain railroad retirement benefits all depend on this announcement to know their income for the coming year. Landlords, creditors, and government programs that set benefits based on Social Security income also use this number to adjust their own calculations for January.

Where to find the 2026 COLA announcement

The SSA publishes the COLA announcement on its official website at ssa.gov. The announcement appears on the homepage and in a dedicated press release. You can also call the Social Security toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 to hear a recorded message with the COLA percentage, or visit your local Social Security office in person.

News outlets and financial websites will also report the announcement on the day it is released. If you want to know the number as soon as it comes out, checking ssa.gov directly is the fastest route — the announcement is posted there before most news coverage begins.

What happens to your benefit after the announcement

Once the COLA is announced in October 2025, the SSA begins processing the increase for all current beneficiaries. You will see the new amount in your January 2026 payment. If you receive your benefit by direct deposit, the larger payment will arrive on your regular payment date in January. If you receive a paper check, the check will reflect the new amount.

The SSA also sends a notice called the Social Security Benefit Statement to all beneficiaries in December, showing the new benefit amount effective January 2026. This statement arrives by mail or through your online account at ssa.gov if you have created one. Keep this statement for your records, as you may need it to prove your income to landlords, lenders, or other programs.

COLA history and what to expect for 2026

The COLA has varied significantly in recent years. In 2024, the COLA was 3.2 percent. In 2025, it was 2.5 percent. The 2026 COLA will depend entirely on whether inflation in summer 2025 is higher or lower than it was in summer 2024. No one can predict the exact number in advance — it is determined by actual inflation data, not forecasts.

If you want to plan your budget for 2026, you can make an estimate based on current inflation trends, but the official number will not be known until October 2025. Some people use the previous year's COLA as a rough guide, but inflation can change quickly, so this is only a starting point.

If you do not receive Social Security yet

If you are not yet receiving Social Security but plan to claim in 2026, the COLA announcement does not directly affect you — your benefit amount is calculated based on your earnings record and the age at which you claim. However, the COLA does affect the maximum benefit amount and the earnings limit for people who claim before full retirement age, so it is worth monitoring if you are close to claiming.

You can create an account on ssa.gov to view your earnings record and get an estimate of your future benefit at different claiming ages. This estimate updates once a year, usually in September or October, and reflects the current COLA.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the COLA be zero or negative?

Yes, though it is rare. If inflation falls, the COLA can be zero, meaning no increase. A negative COLA (a benefit cut) has happened only once since 1975 — in 2010, when prices fell during the recession. By law, the COLA cannot go below zero, so benefits never decrease due to deflation.

Does the COLA announcement affect SSI payments?

Yes. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients receive the same COLA percentage increase as Social Security beneficiaries, effective January 2026. The announcement applies to both programs.

What if I disagree with the COLA calculation?

The COLA is set by law based on the Consumer Price Index published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The SSA does not have discretion to change it. If you believe the CPI data itself is wrong, that is a matter for the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not Social Security.

Will the COLA announcement affect my Medicare premiums?

Possibly. Medicare Part B and Part D premiums are adjusted each year, and the adjustment is sometimes tied to the COLA. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announces Medicare premium changes separately, usually in November, but the COLA can influence those decisions.

How do I know if my benefit increased correctly in January 2026?

Compare your January 2026 payment to your December 2025 payment and multiply the December amount by the COLA percentage announced in October. The result should match your January payment (within a dollar or two due to rounding). If it does not, contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to ask them to review your account.