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

Every year, Social Security recalculates the monthly payment amount for people already receiving benefits. This annual adjustment is called a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA). The 2026 COLA will be announced in October 2025 and will take effect in January 2026. The exact percentage increase depends on how much prices rose between July 2024 and September 2025 — a measurement the government calls the Consumer Price Index.

The increase applies automatically to everyone receiving Social Security retirement, survivor, or disability benefits. You do not need to do anything to receive it. Your new payment amount will appear in your January 2026 check or direct deposit. Medicare premiums may also change at the same time, which can affect how much of your benefit you actually take home.

Key Takeaways

  • The 2026 COLA will be announced in October 2025 and will apply to all benefit payments starting in January 2026.
  • The increase amount depends on inflation measured from July 2024 through September 2025, so the exact percentage is not yet known.
  • The adjustment happens automatically — you will see the new amount in your January payment without taking any action.
  • Your Medicare Part B and Part D premiums may also increase in 2026, which can reduce the net gain from your benefit increase.

How the COLA is calculated and announced

Social Security uses the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) to measure inflation. This index tracks the cost of food, housing, transportation, medical care, and other goods and services that people buy. The government compares prices from July 2024 to prices from July 2025, then announces the result in October 2025.

If prices have risen, the COLA is a positive number — your benefit goes up. If prices have fallen (which is rare), the COLA can be zero or negative, meaning your benefit stays the same or decreases. Since 1975, there have been only three years with no increase: 2010, 2011, and 2016.

The COLA applies to the full benefit amount you receive. If you receive $1,800 per month and the COLA is 2.5%, your new payment will be $1,845. The increase is rounded to the nearest dollar.

Who receives the 2026 increase

The COLA applies to everyone receiving a Social Security benefit check, including retired workers, spouses and ex-spouses of retired workers, surviving children and spouses of deceased workers, and people receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The increase is automatic and universal — there is no separate process to claim it.

If you are not yet receiving benefits, the COLA does not affect you directly. However, when you do begin receiving benefits, your starting amount will be calculated using your earnings history adjusted for inflation up to the year you turn 60. This means future COLAs indirectly benefit people who have not yet claimed.

How Medicare premiums interact with your benefit increase

While your Social Security benefit increases in 2026, your Medicare Part B premium (which covers doctor visits and outpatient care) may also increase. The Part B premium is deducted directly from your Social Security payment before you receive it. If the premium increase is larger than your COLA increase, your actual take-home payment could stay the same or even decrease.

Medicare Part D (prescription drug coverage) premiums also change annually and vary by plan. If you are enrolled in a Part D plan, your premium is deducted from your benefit or paid separately depending on how you signed up. Check your Medicare notices in late 2025 to see what your new premiums will be.

There is one protection: if you are in a situation where your Medicare premiums would consume your entire COLA increase, Social Security guarantees that your total benefit payment will not decrease. This rule is called the "hold harmless" provision, though it does not prevent your benefit from staying flat if premiums rise enough.

What the 2026 COLA might be based on recent inflation

The exact 2026 COLA will not be known until October 2025. However, you can look at recent inflation trends to get a rough sense of the range. In 2024, the COLA was 3.2%. In 2025, it was 2.5%. Inflation has been cooling from its 2022 peak, so the 2026 increase will likely fall somewhere in the 2% to 3% range, though this is not a prediction and actual inflation could differ.

The Social Security Administration publishes historical COLA amounts on its website, which can help you see how increases have varied over time. Recent years have seen increases between 1.3% and 8.7%, depending on inflation in that period.

When and how you will see the increase

Your January 2026 Social Security payment will include the COLA increase. If you receive direct deposit, the new amount will appear in your bank account on the usual payment date (which varies based on your birth date). If you receive a paper check, it will arrive with the new amount.

You will also receive a notice from Social Security in December 2025 or early January 2026 showing your new benefit amount and explaining the COLA. Keep this notice for your records. If the amount shown is incorrect or you have questions, contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or visit your local Social Security office.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I find out the 2026 COLA before October 2025?

No. The official announcement happens in October 2025. However, financial news outlets often publish estimates based on inflation data through August or September. These estimates are educated guesses and may differ from the official figure announced by Social Security.

What if I disagree with the COLA amount shown on my notice?

Contact Social Security directly at 1-800-772-1213 to ask how your new amount was calculated. Social Security staff can review your earnings record and explain the adjustment. If you believe an error was made, you can request a recalculation.

Does the COLA increase affect my Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?

Yes. SSI recipients receive the same COLA as Social Security beneficiaries. However, SSI has strict income and resource limits, so the increase could affect your SSI payment if you also have other income or resources that push you over the limit.

Will my Medicare premiums definitely increase in 2026?

Medicare premiums usually increase each year, but the amount varies. The Part B premium increase is announced in October 2025 at the same time as the COLA. Part D premiums depend on your specific plan and are announced by your insurance company in the fall of 2025.