The 2026 SSA COLA is 2.8 percent, the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment that begins with benefits payable in January 2026 for about 71 million Social Security beneficiaries (Source: SSA 2026 COLA Fact Sheet, Oct. 24, 2025). It raises the average retired-worker benefit by roughly $56 a month, though a larger Medicare Part B premium takes back close to a third of that raise for most people on Medicare.
The 2026 SSA COLA is 2.8 percent, up from 2.5 percent in 2025. It applies to Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Social Security payments reflect the increase starting January 2026, and SSI payments increased December 31, 2025 (Source: Social Security Administration, 2026 COLA Fact Sheet). The average retired-worker benefit rises about $56 a month to roughly $2,064.
What is the Social Security COLA for 2026?
The 2026 SSA COLA is 2.8 percent, announced by the Social Security Administration on October 24, 2025 (Source: SSA press release, “Social Security Announces 2.8 Percent Benefit Increase for 2026”). It applies to Social Security retirement, survivor, and disability benefits and to Supplemental Security Income, and it is set by an automatic statutory formula rather than a policy vote.
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The 2.8 percent figure is higher than the 2.5 percent COLA that took effect in 2025. It reflects measured inflation over the prior year, so the annual adjustment tracks prices rather than a discretionary decision.
| Cost-of-living adjustment | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Annual COLA percentage | 2.5% | 2.8% |
| Effective (Social Security) | January 2025 | January 2026 |
| Effective (SSI) | Dec. 31, 2024 | Dec. 31, 2025 |
| Beneficiaries affected | ~72.5M | ~71M SS plus ~7.5M SSI |
Source: SSA 2026 COLA Fact Sheet.
How much will my Social Security check increase in 2026?
The Social Security Administration estimates the average retired-worker benefit rises about $56 a month with the 2026 SSA COLA, moving to roughly $2,064 (Source: SSA 2026 COLA Fact Sheet, Oct. 24, 2025). Your own increase equals 2.8 percent of your current gross benefit, so a $1,500 benefit rises about $42 and a $3,000 benefit rises about $84.
The increase reaches about 71 million Social Security beneficiaries and about 7.5 million SSI recipients. SSA estimates the average disabled-worker (SSDI) benefit rises roughly $44 a month, and the SSI federal payment standard rises to about $994 for an individual and about $1,491 for an eligible couple in 2026 (Source: SSA, SSI Federal Payment Amounts for 2026).
| Current monthly benefit | 2.8% COLA raise | New gross benefit |
|---|---|---|
| $1,500 | +$42.00 | $1,542.00 |
| $2,008 (approx. average) | +$56.00 | ~$2,064.00 |
| $3,000 | +$84.00 | $3,084.00 |
| $4,000 | +$112.00 | $4,112.00 |
Source: SSA 2026 COLA Fact Sheet. Examples apply the 2.8 percent factor to a gross benefit; your figure depends on earnings history and claiming age.
The net take-home reality: how Medicare Part B offsets the 2026 COLA
For most people on Medicare, the real 2026 raise is smaller than the headline COLA because the standard Part B premium is deducted directly from the Social Security check. The 2026 Part B standard premium is $202.90 a month, up $17.90 from $185.00 in 2025, which absorbs about one-third of the average $56 COLA raise (Source: CMS 2026 Medicare Parts A and B fact sheet).
| Monthly amount (average beneficiary on Medicare) | 2026 figure |
|---|---|
| Gross COLA raise (2.8% of average benefit) | +$56.00 |
| Medicare Part B premium increase | minus $17.90 |
| Approximate net monthly increase | +$38.10 |
Sources: SSA 2026 COLA Fact Sheet; CMS 2026 Medicare Parts A and B fact sheet. Individual results vary with benefit size and premium.
A “hold harmless” provision protects most beneficiaries who have Part B deducted from Social Security: your dollar Part B increase generally cannot exceed your dollar COLA, so your net check does not fall. The protection usually does not cover people new to Medicare in 2026, those who pay IRMAA surcharges, or those whose premiums are paid by a state (Source: 42 U.S.C. Section 1395r; Medicare.gov).
Higher earners can lose more. Part B income-related monthly adjustment amounts (IRMAA) add a surcharge once modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) from the two-year lookback exceeds $109,000 for an individual or $218,000 for a joint filer (Source: CMS 2026 fact sheet). Our detailed 2026 Medicare IRMAA brackets and premiums breakdown shows each tier.
If a life-changing event lowered your income, you can ask Social Security to reduce or remove an IRMAA surcharge by filing Form SSA-44, “Medicare Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount, Life-Changing Event.” Qualifying events include work stoppage or retirement, marriage, divorce, and death of a spouse (Source: SSA Form SSA-44). Because IRMAA uses income from two years earlier, a one-time spike such as a large capital gain can be worth appealing when the underlying income has since dropped.
Every 2026 Social Security number in one table
The 2026 SSA COLA moves several thresholds that the Social Security Administration publishes separately. The figures below gather the key 2026 numbers a retiree or worker often needs in one place (Source: SSA 2026 COLA Fact Sheet and SSA Publication EN-05-10003, “2026 Social Security Changes”).
| 2026 Social Security figure | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Taxable maximum (wage base) | $176,100 | $184,500 |
| Earnings test, under FRA all year ($1 withheld per $2 over) | $23,400/yr | $24,480/yr |
| Earnings test, year reaching FRA ($1 withheld per $3 over) | $62,160/yr | $65,160/yr |
| Maximum monthly benefit at full retirement age | $4,018 | $4,152 |
| Quarter of coverage (one credit) | $1,810 | $1,890 |
| SSI federal payment standard (individual) | $967 | ~$994 |
Sources: SSA 2026 COLA Fact Sheet; SSA Contribution and Benefit Base; SSA Exempt Amounts Under the Earnings Test; SSA Pub. EN-05-10003. The payroll tax rate stays 6.2 percent on earnings up to the taxable maximum (12.4 percent combined); the wage-base increase is a wage-index change, not the COLA itself.
When does the 2026 COLA take effect and how do I see my notice?
The 2026 SSA COLA takes effect with Social Security benefits payable in January 2026, while increased SSI payments began December 31, 2025 (Source: SSA 2026 COLA Fact Sheet). No action is needed, because the Social Security Administration applies the increase automatically to each record.
You can confirm your exact new figure through a personalized COLA notice. SSA posts it in the Message Center of your my Social Security account, generally in December, and also mails a notice to beneficiaries in December. The notice shows your new benefit amount and any Medicare premium deduction.
How is the Social Security COLA calculated?
The Social Security COLA is a statutory automatic adjustment tied to inflation, not a discretionary vote. SSA compares the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) for the third quarter of 2024 with the third quarter of 2025, and the percentage increase becomes the 2026 COLA of 2.8 percent (Source: SSA 2026 COLA Fact Sheet).
- Average the CPI-W for July, August, and September of 2024.
- Average the CPI-W for the same three months of 2025.
- Divide the change by the 2024 average to get the percentage increase, rounded to the nearest tenth: 2.8 percent for 2026.
The 2026 figure is final. Any number circulating for the 2027 COLA is only a prediction until SSA runs the same CPI-W comparison for the third quarter of 2027 in October 2026, so treat early 2027 estimates as forecasts rather than confirmed amounts.
Because the formula is written into law, the annual COLA is separate from the debate over long-term trust-fund solvency. The Social Security Board of Trustees projects future funding shortfalls in its annual report, and any changes would require congressional action; the automatic COLA continues to apply under current statute regardless of those projections.
Why the raise can feel smaller: frozen tax thresholds and adequacy
A 2.8 percent COLA is designed to keep pace with measured inflation, but several fixed dollar thresholds do not rise with it, which can shrink the practical value of the increase. Because the COLA tracks a broad price index rather than a given household’s costs, the adjustment may not fully offset a retiree’s own increases, particularly in health care.
One concrete example is federal income tax on benefits. Under 26 U.S.C. Section 86, the base amounts that determine whether benefits are taxable ($25,000 single and $32,000 married filing jointly for the first tier) are fixed and are not indexed for inflation (Source: 26 U.S.C. Section 86; IRS Publication 915). As benefits rise 2.8 percent while those thresholds stay frozen, more beneficiaries can cross into having up to 50 percent or 85 percent of benefits taxed over time. Our explainer on the Social Security tax torpedo covers how this interacts with other income.
A separate $6,000 senior deduction for individuals age 65 and older applies for tax years 2025 through 2028 under P.L. 119-21 (Source: IRS guidance). It phases out at higher income and does not repeal the taxation-of-benefits rules.
How this connects to Roth conversion planning
Because both IRMAA surcharges and the taxation of benefits depend on MAGI, the year income is realized matters. Some retirees study whether a Roth conversion in a given year raises MAGI enough to trigger a higher Part B premium or push more benefits into the taxable range, which is why how much to convert and the conversion break-even timeline are common questions.
A conversion is taxable ordinary income, cannot be reversed, and must be completed by the December 31 deadline to count for that tax year, and it is not itself subject to the net investment income tax. Whether any of this fits a situation depends on individual circumstances and is a topic to review with a qualified professional. Related planning also touches 2026 required minimum distributions.
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Q3 Advisors is a registered investment adviser focused on retirement tax planning. This page is educational and is not advice; consult a qualified professional.
Frequently asked questions
The questions below cover the most common 2026 SSA COLA topics: the size of the adjustment, when it arrives, how much a benefit rises, how the figure is calculated, the average benefit, the Medicare Part B premium change, and the taxable wage base. Each answer cites a primary government source, and dollar amounts vary with your benefit, earnings history, and claiming age.
How much will the COLA amount be for 2026 and when will I receive it?
The 2026 COLA is 2.8 percent (Source: SSA 2026 COLA Fact Sheet). Social Security beneficiaries see the increase in benefits payable starting January 2026, and SSI recipients received it beginning December 31, 2025. The Social Security Administration applies it automatically, and the exact dollar amount depends on your current benefit.
What is the COLA increase for 2026?
The 2026 cost-of-living adjustment is 2.8 percent, up from 2.5 percent in 2025 (Source: SSA press release, Oct. 24, 2025). It applies to Social Security retirement, survivor, and disability benefits and to Supplemental Security Income, reaching about 71 million Social Security beneficiaries and about 7.5 million SSI recipients.
How much will my Social Security check increase in 2026?
Your gross increase is 2.8 percent of your current benefit. SSA estimates the average retired-worker benefit rises about $56 a month to roughly $2,064 (Source: SSA 2026 COLA Fact Sheet). For people on Medicare, the $17.90 Part B premium increase reduces the net raise to about $38 in that average case.
When will the 2026 COLA take effect?
The 2026 COLA takes effect with Social Security payments in January 2026, while increased SSI payments began December 31, 2025 (Source: SSA 2026 COLA Fact Sheet). Personalized COLA notices generally post in the Message Center of a my Social Security account in December, with a mailed notice as well.
How is the Social Security COLA calculated?
SSA compares average CPI-W for the third quarter of 2024 with the third quarter of 2025, and the percentage change is the COLA (Source: SSA 2026 COLA Fact Sheet). The method is an automatic statutory formula, so the annual adjustment does not require a separate vote by Congress.
What is the average Social Security benefit for 2026?
SSA estimates the average retired-worker benefit is about $2,064 a month in 2026 after the 2.8 percent COLA, up roughly $56 (Source: SSA 2026 COLA Fact Sheet). The average disabled-worker benefit rises about $44 a month. Individual amounts vary with earnings history and claiming age.
Will Medicare premiums increase in 2026?
Yes. The standard Medicare Part B premium is $202.90 a month in 2026, up $17.90 from $185.00 in 2025, and the Part B deductible is $283 (Source: CMS 2026 Medicare Parts A and B fact sheet). Higher-income enrollees pay IRMAA surcharges on top of the standard premium.
What is the maximum taxable earnings for Social Security in 2026?
The 2026 Social Security taxable maximum (wage base) is $184,500, up from $176,100 in 2025 (Source: SSA Contribution and Benefit Base). Earnings above that amount are not subject to the 6.2 percent Social Security tax, though the 1.45 percent Medicare tax has no wage cap.
Sources
Social Security Administration, “Social Security Announces 2.8 Percent Benefit Increase for 2026,” press release, Oct. 24, 2025 (ssa.gov/news).
Social Security Administration, 2026 COLA Fact Sheet (ssa.gov/news/en/cola/factsheets/2026.html).
Social Security Administration, Contribution and Benefit Base; Exempt Amounts Under the Earnings Test; Quarter of Coverage; SSI Federal Payment Amounts for 2026; Form SSA-44; and Pub. EN-05-10003, “2026 Social Security Changes” (ssa.gov).
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, “2026 Medicare Parts A and B Premiums and Deductibles,” fact sheet (cms.gov/newsroom); 42 U.S.C. Section 1395r (hold harmless).
26 U.S.C. Section 86; IRS Publication 915; IRS, P.L. 119-21 guidance (irs.gov; law.cornell.edu).
