The 2026 Social Security raise has not been announced yet

Social Security benefits rise each year based on inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). This annual increase is called a Cost of Living Adjustment, or COLA. The Social Security Administration announces the exact percentage in October, and the raise takes effect the following January. Because we are still in 2024 or early 2025, the 2026 COLA has not been calculated or announced.

The COLA is determined by comparing the average CPI-W for the third quarter of the current year to the average for the third quarter of the previous year. If inflation has risen, benefits go up by that percentage. If inflation has fallen, benefits stay flat — they do not decrease. The Social Security Administration will publish the 2026 COLA in October 2025, and it will explore to all benefit payments starting in January 2026.

Key Takeaways

  • The 2026 Social Security COLA will be announced in October 2025 and will take effect with January 2026 payments.
  • The increase is based on inflation measured by the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, not on wages or other economic measures.
  • If inflation has declined from the previous year, benefits remain unchanged rather than decreasing.
  • The exact percentage depends on inflation data through September 2025, which cannot be predicted in advance.

How the COLA is calculated

The Social Security Administration compares inflation data from two specific periods: the third quarter (July, August, and September) of the current year versus the third quarter of the previous year. It uses only the CPI-W, which tracks prices paid by urban wage earners and clerical workers — not all consumers. The percentage increase in the CPI-W between these two periods becomes the COLA percentage.

For example, if the average CPI-W for July through September 2025 is 5 percent higher than the average for July through September 2024, the 2026 COLA would be 5 percent. Every person receiving a Social Security benefit — retirement, disability, survivor, or spousal — receives the same percentage increase to their monthly payment.

Recent COLA amounts and what they mean

Past COLAs show how the increase varies with inflation. In 2024, the COLA was 3.2 percent. In 2023, it was 8.7 percent, the largest increase in four decades, because inflation had spiked in 2022. In 2022, the COLA was 5.9 percent. In 2021, it was 1.3 percent. In 2020, it was 1.3 percent. These numbers reflect the inflation environment of each year, not predictions about future years.

The 2026 COLA will depend entirely on whether inflation rises or falls between September 2024 and September 2025. If inflation stays low, the increase may be smaller than recent years. If inflation rises, the increase may be larger. There is no way to know the exact figure until October 2025.

When you will see the 2026 increase in your payment

If you receive Social Security, your January 2026 payment will reflect the new COLA. The increase applies to all benefit types: retirement benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and benefits paid to spouses and children of retired or disabled workers. Your payment will be automatically adjusted — you do not need to do anything.

The Social Security Administration mails a notice in December 2025 showing your new benefit amount starting in January. If you receive payments by direct deposit, the higher amount will appear in your bank account in early January 2026. If you receive a check, it will arrive with the increased amount.

Where to find the official announcement

The Social Security Administration publishes the COLA announcement on its official website, ssa.gov, in October each year. The announcement includes the percentage increase and explains how it was calculated. You can also call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 to ask about the 2026 COLA once it has been announced.

News outlets and financial websites will also report the announcement in October 2025. If you want to plan ahead, you can estimate based on inflation trends, but the official figure will not be final until the Social Security Administration releases it.

What the COLA does and does not cover

The COLA adjusts your monthly benefit payment, but it does not change the rules for earning income while receiving benefits, the age at which you can claim, or the amount you paid into Social Security. It also does not affect Medicare premiums directly, though Medicare Part B and Part D premiums are set separately each year and may increase or decrease independently of the COLA.

If you are still working and receiving Social Security before your full retirement age, the earnings limit — the amount you can earn without losing benefits — also changes each year, but it is based on wage growth, not the COLA. The Social Security Administration announces the new earnings limit at the same time as the COLA.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Social Security benefits go down if inflation falls?

No. If inflation decreases, the COLA is zero and benefits stay the same. Benefits never decrease from one year to the next due to inflation. This protection has been in place since 1975.

Does the COLA explore to everyone on Social Security?

Yes. All people receiving retirement benefits, disability benefits, survivor benefits, and spousal or child benefits receive the same COLA percentage. The increase is automatic and applies to your first payment in January of the following year.

How can I estimate what my 2026 benefit will be?

You can multiply your current monthly benefit by the COLA percentage once it is announced in October 2025. Until then, you can only estimate based on current inflation trends, which is not reliable. The Social Security Administration does not publish estimates before the official announcement.

Will Medicare premiums go up by the same amount as the COLA?

Not necessarily. Medicare Part B and Part D premiums are set separately each year based on program costs, not the Social Security COLA. Your premium may increase more or less than your benefit increase, or it may stay the same.