What the 2026 Social Security benefit increase will look like
Social Security benefit amounts change each year based on a measure called the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA). The Social Security Administration calculates COLA using inflation data from the third quarter of the previous year — so the 2026 increase will be based on inflation figures from July, August, and September 2025. The exact percentage won't be known until October 2025, when the SSA announces it officially.
If you receive Social Security retirement, disability, or survivor benefits, your monthly payment will increase by whatever percentage COLA sets for 2026. This adjustment applies automatically — you don't need to do anything. The new amount takes effect in January 2026, and you'll see it reflected in your first payment of that month.
COLA adjustments have varied significantly over the past decade. Some years the increase was less than 1 percent; in other years it exceeded 8 percent. The size of your increase in dollars depends on both the COLA percentage and your current benefit amount, so two people receiving different monthly payments will see different dollar increases even though the percentage is the same.
Key Takeaways
- The 2026 COLA percentage will be announced in October 2025 and is based on inflation data from summer 2025.
- Your 2026 benefit amount will increase by that COLA percentage automatically, with the new amount starting in January 2026.
- COLA adjustments have ranged from less than 1 percent to over 8 percent in recent years, depending on inflation.
- Your Medicare Part B premium may also change in 2026, which can offset some or all of your benefit increase.
How COLA is calculated and why it matters
The Social Security Administration uses the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) to measure inflation. Specifically, they look at the average CPI-W for July, August, and September of the year before the adjustment takes effect. If that average is higher than the same three-month average from the previous year, the difference becomes your COLA percentage.
This method means COLA reflects what inflation actually was, not what anyone predicted it would be. If inflation was low during those three months, COLA will be low. If inflation was high, COLA will be high. There is no minimum COLA — in years when prices actually fell, COLA was zero, and benefits stayed the same.
COLA matters because it's the only automatic increase most Social Security recipients receive. Unlike wages at a job, your Social Security benefit doesn't go up just because you've been receiving it longer. Without COLA, the purchasing power of your monthly check would shrink every year inflation occurred.
What happens to Medicare premiums when benefits increase
When your Social Security benefit increases in January 2026, your Medicare Part B premium may also change. Part B covers doctor visits and outpatient care. The premium amount is set each year and is usually deducted directly from your Social Security payment.
If your Part B premium increases more than your benefit increase, your net payment could actually go down or stay the same even though your benefit technically went up. This is called the hold-harmless provision — it protects most beneficiaries from having their total monthly payment reduced because of a premium increase. However, people who are newly enrolled in Medicare or who have higher incomes may not receive this protection.
The 2026 Part B premium won't be announced until November 2025, so you won't know the exact impact on your net payment until then. If you have questions about how the premium change affects your specific situation, you can contact Medicare directly or visit Medicare.gov.
How to find out your 2026 benefit amount
You can view your current benefit amount and see a projection of your 2026 payment through your my Social Security account at ssa.gov. You'll need to create an account or sign in if you already have one. Your account shows your current monthly benefit and your earnings record.
However, the account cannot show your exact 2026 amount until after the COLA is announced in October 2025. Once the SSA announces the percentage, they update all accounts within a few days. You can also call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to ask about your projected 2026 benefit, though the representative will give you the same information available in your online account.
If you don't have a my Social Security account yet, creating one takes about 10 minutes. You'll need your Social Security number, email address, and a way to verify your identity — usually a phone number or address on file with Social Security.
Planning for the 2026 benefit amount
If you're currently working and haven't yet claimed Social Security, the 2026 COLA won't directly affect you yet. However, it can give you a sense of how much your future benefit might increase each year once you start receiving payments. Keep in mind that future COLA adjustments depend on future inflation, so they're not predictable.
If you're already receiving benefits and budget based on your monthly payment, you may want to plan for a modest increase in January 2026. Even if COLA is small, it's still an increase. If you have debt or savings goals, a benefit increase can be an opportunity to put extra money toward those priorities.
If you're approaching the age when you can claim Social Security, understanding how COLA works can help you think about when to claim. Your benefit amount at the time you claim becomes your primary insurance amount, and future COLA adjustments are calculated as a percentage of that amount. Claiming at a higher age means a higher starting amount, which also means larger dollar increases from future COLA adjustments.
What changed from 2025 to 2026
The 2025 COLA was 2.5 percent. This means if you received $1,000 per month in 2024, your 2025 payment was $1,025. The 2026 COLA will be different — it could be higher, lower, or the same, depending on inflation from summer 2025.
Beyond COLA, Social Security itself doesn't change from year to year in terms of how it works or who can receive it. The rules for claiming, the earnings test, and the way benefits are calculated all remain the same. The only annual change most people notice is the benefit amount itself.
One thing that does change is the earnings test limit — the amount of money you can earn in a year before Social Security reduces your benefit if you claim before full retirement age. This limit increases each year based on wage growth. For 2025, the limit was $23,400. The 2026 limit will be announced at the same time as COLA, in October 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I know the exact 2026 COLA percentage?
The Social Security Administration announces COLA in October of the year before it takes effect. For 2026, the announcement will come in October 2025. You can find the announcement on ssa.gov or by calling 1-800-772-1213.
Will my 2026 benefit increase if I haven't claimed yet?
No. COLA adjustments only explore to people currently receiving Social Security payments. If you haven't claimed yet, your benefit amount will be calculated based on your earnings record and the age at which you claim. Future COLA adjustments will then explore to that amount.
What if my Medicare premium goes up more than my benefit increase?
The hold-harmless provision protects most beneficiaries from having their total payment reduced. However, if you're newly enrolled in Medicare or have income above certain thresholds, you may not be protected. Contact Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE to understand your specific situation.
Can I see my 2026 benefit amount before October 2025?
Your my Social Security account will show a projection, but it won't be exact until after COLA is announced. The projection is based on the current year's COLA, so it's an estimate. Once the 2026 COLA is announced, your account updates within a few days with the actual amount.
Does COLA explore to Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?
Yes. SSI recipients also receive a COLA adjustment in January, calculated the same way as Social Security retirement and disability benefits. The percentage is the same for both programs.