Area News Headlines
These news headlines brought to you by these fine sponsors:
Social Security 2026 COLA Announced
Mary Drier/Joshua Anaman
Sat, 25 Oct 2025 12:44:21 EDT
 |
click on the picture to enlarge
|
"
The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced there will be a slight increase in benefit payments in 2026.
The cost of living adjustment (COLA) will be 2.8 percent for the coming year, which is slightly higher than last year's rate of 2.5 percent for Social Security monthly payments.
Benefits will be a little more because of the slight increase in inflation.
According to the chart provided by SSA, the 2.8 percent will mean an increase of about $56 based on an average monthly benefit of $2,015. However, some of that increase will be decreased with expected increase in premiums for Medicare Part B, which covers outpatient services and more.
That cost of medical coverage is expected to increase by about $21.50 per month in 2026.
The increase in benefit was to have been released on Oct. 15, but was delayed because of the shutdown of federal operations due to wrangling over the proposed 2026 budget.
COLAs are based on the Consumer Price Index for the Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers during the third quarter of the year, according to the SSA website.
SSA's chart shows the COLA increases from 2000 to 2026. The largest Social Security increase happened in 2023 when it increased by 8.7 percent. The average increase in the other years shown on the chart range from increases of 2 percent to 3 percent.
The increase in benefit payment is expected to be calculated in December but will not be reflected until the next Social Security check arrives.
