What you need to know about the 2026 benefit increase
Social Security benefits increase each year based on inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). The Social Security Administration announces the increase amount in October, and the new benefit amount takes effect the following January. The 2026 increase has not yet been announced because it depends on inflation data collected through September 2025.
When the increase is announced in October 2025, it will explore to all people receiving Social Security retirement, disability, and survivor benefits. The increase is automatic — you do not need to do anything to receive it. Your new benefit amount will appear in your January 2026 payment.
The increase amount varies year to year. Recent increases have ranged from 1.3% to 8.7%, depending on how much prices rose during the measurement period. A higher inflation rate during 2024 and 2025 could result in a larger increase, but the exact percentage will not be known until the announcement.
Key Takeaways
- The 2026 Social Security increase will be announced in October 2025 and will take effect with your January 2026 payment.
- The increase amount is based on inflation measured from October 2024 through September 2025 and cannot be predicted in advance.
- The increase applies automatically to all beneficiaries — retirement, disability, and survivor benefits all receive the same percentage increase.
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments also increase by the same percentage, and the resource and income limits for SSI increase as well.
How the increase is calculated
The Social Security Administration uses the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) to measure inflation. This index tracks the cost of goods and services that urban wage earners and clerical workers buy, including food, housing, transportation, and medical care. The SSA compares the average CPI-W for the third quarter (July, August, September) of the current year to the average for the third quarter of the previous year.
If inflation has risen, beneficiaries receive a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). If inflation has fallen or stayed flat, there is no increase that year. This has happened only three times since automatic COLAs began in 1975: in 2010, 2011, and 2016.
The percentage increase is applied to your primary insurance amount — the benefit you are may have access to to at your full retirement age. If you receive a reduced benefit because you claimed early, or an increased benefit because you delayed, the same percentage is applied to your actual payment amount.
When the announcement happens and when you see the change
The Social Security Administration announces the COLA for the following year on the second Tuesday in October. For 2026, this announcement will occur on October 14, 2025. The announcement includes the percentage increase and the new average benefit amounts for different groups of beneficiaries.
Your new benefit amount takes effect with your January 2026 payment. If you receive benefits by direct deposit, the increased amount will appear in your bank account on your regular payment date in January. If you receive a check, the check amount will be higher starting in January.
You will also receive a new Social Security Benefit Verification Letter (also called a "proof of benefits" letter) in December 2025 or early January 2026 showing your new benefit amount. You can use this letter to show banks, landlords, or other organizations your updated income.
How the increase affects Medicare premiums
For most beneficiaries, the Social Security increase is larger than the Medicare Part B premium increase. This means your net benefit — the amount you actually receive after Medicare premiums are deducted — usually goes up. However, the relationship between the two is not may provide.
Medicare Part B premiums are set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) based on program costs. If medical costs rise sharply, Part B premiums can increase significantly. In some years, the Medicare premium increase has consumed most or all of the Social Security increase.
If you are enrolled in Original Medicare (Part A and Part B), your Part B premium is deducted from your Social Security payment. If you have a Medigap or Medicare Advantage plan, you pay the Part B premium separately. The new Medicare premiums for 2026 will be announced in November 2025.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and other programs tied to the COLA
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments increase by the same percentage as Social Security benefits. SSI is a needs-based program for people who are 65 or older, blind, or disabled and have limited income and resources. The federal SSI payment amount for 2025 is $943 per month for an individual and $1,415 for a couple; these amounts will increase in January 2026 by the same percentage as Social Security.
The resource limits for SSI also increase with the COLA. For 2025, the limit is $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple. These limits determine whether you can receive SSI. When the 2026 COLA is announced, the resource limits will increase proportionally.
Some state programs that supplement SSI also increase with the COLA, though the rules vary by state. If you receive SSI, your state agency will send you information about any changes to your payment amount or resource limits.
What to do now to prepare
You do not need to take any action to receive the 2026 increase. The change happens automatically. However, you can prepare by understanding how the increase will affect your budget.
If you are still working and receiving Social Security, the increase may affect your earnings test. In 2026, if you are under full retirement age for the entire year, Social Security deducts $1 from your benefit for every $2 you earn above the annual limit. The earnings limit increases each year with the national average wage index. The exact 2026 limit will be announced in October 2025.
If you have questions about how the increase will affect your specific situation — for example, if you receive both Social Security and SSI, or if you are still working — you can contact Social Security directly. Call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visit your local Social Security office. You can also create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov to view your benefit information online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I find out the 2026 increase before October 2025?
No. The increase is based on inflation data collected through September 2025, which is not finalized until October. Some financial websites publish predictions based on inflation trends, but these are estimates only. The official announcement comes from the Social Security Administration in October 2025.
Will the increase be the same for everyone?
Yes. All Social Security beneficiaries receive the same percentage increase, regardless of how much they receive or when they claimed benefits. A person receiving $500 per month and a person receiving $3,000 per month both receive the same percentage increase.
What if I disagree with the increase amount?
The COLA is set by law based on the Consumer Price Index. You cannot dispute the percentage increase itself. However, if you believe your benefit amount is calculated incorrectly, you can contact Social Security to request a review of your earnings record and benefit calculation.
Does the increase affect my taxes?
It may. If your total income (including half of your Social Security benefits plus other income) exceeds certain thresholds, part of your Social Security benefits are subject to federal income tax. A higher benefit amount could push you over the threshold. The thresholds do not increase with the COLA, so more beneficiaries may owe taxes as benefits rise.
What if I am not yet receiving Social Security?
The COLA does not affect your future benefit amount directly. Your benefit is calculated based on your actual earnings record. However, the COLA does increase the maximum benefit amount and the bend points used in the benefit formula, which can slightly increase the benefit of someone who claims in 2026 compared to someone who claimed in 2025.