Social Security payments will rise in 2026 based on inflation measured through September 2025

Every year, Social Security adjusts payments to account for inflation. This yearly change is called the Cost of Living Adjustment, or COLA. The 2026 COLA will be announced in October 2025 and will take effect when payments arrive in January 2026. The exact percentage increase depends on inflation data collected from July through September 2025 — that data does not exist yet, so the 2026 increase cannot be predicted now.

The COLA affects everyone receiving Social Security: retirees, people on disability, and survivors of workers who have died. It also affects Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments. The increase applies to your full monthly benefit amount, and Medicare premiums are adjusted at the same time, which may affect your net payment depending on how your premiums are deducted.

Key Takeaways

  • The 2026 COLA will be announced in October 2025 and will appear in your January 2026 payment.
  • The increase is calculated from inflation data collected between July and September 2025, which means the exact percentage cannot be known before October.
  • COLA increases apply to all Social Security beneficiaries, including retirees, disabled workers, and family members receiving survivor benefits.
  • Your Medicare Part B and Part D premiums may also change in 2026, which can reduce the net increase in your take-home payment.
  • You do not need to do anything to receive the increase — it is automatic if you are already receiving benefits.

How the COLA is calculated and announced

The Social Security Administration uses the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) to measure inflation. Specifically, they compare the average CPI-W for July, August, and September of the current year to the same three months from the previous year. If there is an increase, that percentage becomes the COLA.

The announcement happens in October each year. For 2026, the Social Security Administration will announce the COLA on October 16, 2025. This gives beneficiaries and the government time to prepare for the January payment adjustment. If inflation has been flat or negative, there is no COLA that year — your payment stays the same.

What changed from 2025 to 2026

The 2025 COLA was 3.2 percent. This means anyone receiving Social Security in January 2025 saw their payment increase by 3.2 percent compared to what they received in December 2024. The 2026 COLA will be different because inflation between July and September 2025 will be different from the inflation measured for 2025.

Recent years have seen COLAs ranging from 1.3 percent (2022) to 8.7 percent (2023). The 2026 increase could be higher, lower, or similar to 2025 depending on how prices move over the summer and early fall of 2025. You can watch inflation trends through the Bureau of Labor Statistics website if you want to estimate the likely range, but the official number will not be known until October.

How the increase affects your monthly payment

If you receive $2,000 per month in Social Security and the COLA is 3 percent, your new payment would be $2,060 per month starting in January 2026. The increase is applied to your full benefit amount, not just a portion of it. If you are receiving benefits as a spouse or survivor, your payment increases by the same percentage as the worker's benefit.

Your Medicare Part B premium may also increase in 2026, and this is deducted from your Social Security payment if you are enrolled in Part B. In some cases, the premium increase can be larger than your COLA increase, which means your net payment (the amount you actually receive) could stay the same or even decrease. This is called "hold harmless" protection, and it prevents your payment from going down, but it also means the full COLA benefit may not reach your bank account.

When you will see the increase in your account

Social Security payments are deposited on a schedule based on your birth date. Most beneficiaries receive payments on the second, third, or fourth Wednesday of each month. The January 2026 payment — which includes the COLA increase — will arrive on your regular payment date in January 2026.

If you receive a paper check instead of direct deposit, the check will be mailed to arrive around your regular payment date. If you have not yet set up direct deposit, you can do so through your Social Security account at ssa.gov or by calling 1-800-772-1213. Direct deposit is faster and more secure than paper checks.

What to do if you think your payment is wrong

After your January 2026 payment arrives, you can verify the increase by checking your Social Security statement. You can view your statement online at ssa.gov by signing into your account, or you can call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to ask about your specific payment amount.

If your payment does not increase or the increase seems smaller than expected, it may be because of a Medicare premium change, a change in your family situation, or an error. Contact Social Security directly to ask why your payment changed by a different amount than the announced COLA. Do not assume the payment is correct without checking — errors do happen, and Social Security can correct them.

How COLA affects other benefits and programs

The COLA also affects Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments, which are needs-based benefits for people with low income and limited resources. SSI recipients will see their payments increase by the same percentage as the COLA in January 2026.

Some state and local government pensions are tied to Social Security COLA, though not all. If you receive a government pension, check with your pension administrator to see whether your payment is adjusted based on the Social Security COLA. Veterans benefits and some other federal benefits also have their own adjustment mechanisms that may or may not match the Social Security COLA.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I find out the 2026 COLA before October 2025?

No. The COLA is calculated from inflation data collected in July, August, and September 2025, so it cannot be known until that data is complete and analyzed. The Social Security Administration will announce the official number on October 16, 2025. You can estimate the likely range by watching inflation reports from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, but the exact figure will not be public until October.

What if I am not receiving Social Security yet but plan to start in 2026?

When you start receiving benefits in 2026, your initial payment will be calculated based on your earnings record and the rules in effect at that time. The COLA does not affect the calculation of your initial benefit — it only increases payments for people already receiving benefits. Once you start, future COLAs will increase your payment each year.

Will my Medicare premium increase offset my COLA increase?

It depends on the size of both increases. If your Medicare Part B premium goes up by more than your COLA increase, hold harmless protection means your Social Security payment will not decrease, but you will not receive the full COLA benefit in your bank account. The Social Security Administration will announce both the COLA and the new Medicare premiums in October 2025, so you can see the net effect on your payment.

Do I need to do anything to receive the COLA increase?

No. If you are already receiving Social Security, the increase is automatic. You do not need to contact Social Security, file any forms, or take any action. The increase will appear in your January 2026 payment on your regular payment date.

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

The COLA only applies to benefits you are already receiving. If you start Social Security in January 2026, your first payment will include the 2026 COLA because it is in effect when your benefits begin. You do not receive back payments of previous COLAs — each year's adjustment applies only to future payments.