Social Security monthly benefits will increase 2.8% in 2026

[Goonch]

Social Security recipients will receive a 2.8% boost in their monthly benefits in 2026, the Social Security Administration announced Friday. However, many seniors say the annual adjustments haven’t been enough to cover their ever-rising expenses.

The increase for 2026 is larger than the 2.5% cost-of-living-adjustment that beneficiaries received for this year, but far smaller than the ones for the few years before that, when inflation was running rampant.

Monthly payments for retired workers will rise by about $56 to an estimated average of $2,071 starting in January, the agency said. Nearly 71 million senior citizens, people with disabilities and others receive Social Security benefits.

(A total of 75 million Americans receive either Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits from the agency. Some receive both.)

The annual adjustment, known as a COLA, is based on an inflation metric from the third quarter of the year. Inflation has moderated after being at around a four-decade high in 2022, which resulted in an 8.7% adjustment for 2023.

A related metric, the Consumer Price Index, rose 3% in September compared with a year ago, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced Friday.

The COLA increase was scheduled to be announced last week but was delayed by the federal government shutdown.

A good chunk of beneficiaries’ COLA for 2026 will likely be erased by an increase in Medicare Part B premiums, which is expected to be released next month. The monthly premium for 2026 is forecast to jump to more than $206, up from $185 this year, according to Medicare’s most recent trustees report. That would be about twice the increase for 2025.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/24/politics/social-security-cola-increase-2026

[kerouac2]

1. Drumpf will send mailer to all seniors

To tell them he is paying them more despite the radical left wing Dems who want them to die at the hands of foreigners... While blaming Dems for inflation and rising costs.

And it must be true because fox news will then say it too.

And nothing matters because all the tariff revenue will pay for everything.

And all their problems will be solved because he has a plan. Which he will release in about two weeks.

[Srkdqltr]

2. How much is medicare increasing?

[Goonch]

3. As above

The monthly premium for 2026 is forecast to jump to more than $206, up from $185 this year, according to Medicare’s most recent trustees report.

[AnnaLee]

4. The COLA increase in my income does not cover.

I compared the expected increase in my income due to the COLA to the known increase in my medical premiums and it doesn't come close. Next year I will pay $700 more than the COLA increase in my income for health insurance if I don't switch to a cheaper insurance policy. The risk is that the cheaper policies have higher out-of-pocket everything.

COLA increase in income = 2026 income - 2025 income
Increase in medical premiums = 2026 medical premiums- 2025 medical premiums
Increase in medical premiums - COLA increase in income = $700.54.

This should be as a percent a lot less than many others with less ex-employer subsidy but there is no COLA for retirees that helps cover increased prices for anything as long as medical premium increases consume more than the COLA.

[Jersey Devil]

6. It's not just the premiums increasing, its the deductibles and co-pays

Across the board, whether it is medicare advantage or medigap, all policies will see rising costs for deductibles and co-pays in addition to higher premiums. For instance, on mine hospital co-pays go from $370 to $450 per day for hospital admission for the first 6 days (previously 5 days, ER visits from $100 to $150, specialist visits from $25 to $35, increases in fees for tests, drug deductibbls, x-rays and just about everything else. So even those with $0 premium advantage plans will see a large increase in out of pocket expenses.

[Emile]

5. Electric company will just raise their rates even more.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

7. A whopping $64 increase for me!

That will be spent quickly enough.

[orangecrush]

8. I'll buy a can of coffee!

Yee haw!

[Silent Type]

9. Feel lucky to still get my check. January predictions were trump would stop SS benefits within 3 months of taking office