The 2026 COLA will be announced in October 2025

The Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2026 has not yet been set. The Social Security Administration announces the COLA each October, and it takes effect the following January. You will know the exact percentage increase to your benefit by mid-October 2025.

The COLA is calculated using the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), measured from the third quarter of one year to the third quarter of the next. This means the 2026 COLA depends on inflation data that will not be final until September 2025.

If you receive Social Security retirement, disability (SSDI), or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), any COLA increase applies to your benefit automatically. You do not need to do anything to receive it.

Key Takeaways

  • The 2026 COLA percentage will be announced in October 2025 and will take effect with your January 2026 payment.
  • COLA is based on inflation measured by the Consumer Price Index and varies year to year — there is no set amount.
  • The increase applies automatically to retirement benefits, SSDI, and SSI; you do not need to report anything to Social Security.
  • Your new benefit amount will appear on your Social Security statement or SSI notice in December 2025.

How the COLA is calculated each year

The Social Security Administration compares the Consumer Price Index for the third quarter (July, August, September) of the current year to the same quarter of the previous year. If prices have risen, beneficiaries receive a COLA. If inflation has been flat or negative, there is no COLA that year — this happened in 2010, 2011, and 2016.

The percentage increase is applied to your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which is the base benefit you earned through your work record. If you receive a reduced benefit because you claimed before your full retirement age, or an increased benefit because you delayed claiming, the COLA applies to your actual payment amount.

For example, if your current benefit is $1,800 per month and the 2026 COLA is 2.5%, your new benefit would be $1,845. The exact calculation depends on your individual benefit amount, not on a chart or table.

When you will see the 2026 increase on your payment

If you receive Social Security retirement or SSDI, your January 2026 payment will include the COLA increase. The Social Security Administration mails a notice in December 2025 showing your new benefit amount. If you use direct deposit, the increased amount will appear in your bank account on your regular payment date in January.

If you receive SSI, the increase takes effect on January 1, 2026, and your first payment reflecting the new amount will arrive on your regular payment date in January or early February, depending on your state and payment schedule.

You can check your current benefit amount and see an estimate of your future benefits by logging into your my Social Security account at ssa.gov. This account shows your earnings record and lets you view your benefit statement.

Why COLA varies and what it has been in recent years

COLA depends entirely on inflation. When prices for food, housing, energy, and other goods rise faster, the COLA is higher. When inflation is low, the COLA is low or zero. The Social Security Administration has no control over the COLA amount — it is set by law based on the CPI-W.

Recent COLA amounts have ranged widely. In 2022, the COLA was 8.7% due to high inflation. In 2023, it was 8.7% again. In 2024, it was 3.2%. In 2025, it is 3.2%. These swings show how much COLA can change year to year based on what is happening in the economy.

Some economists and policy groups have proposed changing how COLA is calculated — for instance, using a different inflation measure or adjusting it based on age. As of now, no such change has been made, and the CPI-W method remains the law.

What to do if you think your 2026 benefit is wrong

After you receive your December 2025 notice showing your new 2026 benefit amount, compare it to what you expected. If the increase seems too small or too large, you can contact Social Security to ask how they calculated it.

Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visit your local Social Security office. Bring your notice and ask them to walk you through the calculation. If there is an error in your earnings record or benefit computation, they can correct it.

Do not assume an error without checking first. COLA is applied to your actual benefit amount, which may be different from what you think it is if you claimed early, delayed claiming, or have other factors affecting your payment.

How COLA affects other benefits tied to Social Security

If you receive a benefit based on someone else's Social Security record — such as a spouse, ex-spouse, or child — the COLA applies to that benefit as well. The increase is calculated the same way: as a percentage of your individual benefit amount.

If you are receiving both Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the COLA increases both payments. However, SSI has a resource limit and income limit that may change as well. A COLA increase to your Social Security could affect your SSI amount, so review your SSI notice carefully.

If you are still working and receiving a reduced Social Security benefit due to the earnings test, the COLA still applies to your benefit amount. The earnings test limit may also change for 2026, which could affect how much of your benefit is withheld.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I find out the 2026 COLA before October 2025?

No. The Social Security Administration does not release the COLA until October, after inflation data for the third quarter is final. Some news outlets and policy organizations publish estimates based on partial inflation data, but these are guesses and often change.

What if I disagree with how my COLA was calculated?

Contact Social Security and ask them to explain the calculation. Bring your benefit notice and your earnings record. If you believe there is an error in your earnings or benefit amount, Social Security can review it and correct it if needed.

Does COLA apply if I am still working?

Yes. The COLA applies to all beneficiaries, whether or not you are working. If you are under full retirement age and working, your benefit may be reduced by the earnings test, but the COLA still increases your underlying benefit amount.

Will the 2026 COLA be higher or lower than 2025?

That depends on inflation between now and September 2025. If prices rise faster than they did in 2024 and 2025, the COLA could be higher. If inflation slows, it could be lower. The Social Security Administration will announce the exact figure in October 2025.