WASHINGTON, D.C.—More than 75 million Americans receiving Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments will see their benefits increase by 2.8 percent in 2026. This Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) aims to ensure that benefits reflect current economic realities.
On average, Social Security retirement benefits will increase by approximately $56 per month, with the new rate taking effect in January 2026.
The 2.8 percent increase for 2026 is slightly lower than the average COLA of 3.1 percent over the last decade, and it is higher than the 2.5 percent adjustment enacted in 2025.
Social Security Administration Commissioner Frank J. Bisignano affirmed the importance of the increase. “Social Security is a promise kept, and the annual cost-of-living adjustment is one way we are working to make sure benefits reflect today’s economic realities and continue to provide a foundation of security,” Bisignano said.
- Social Security Beneficiaries: Nearly 71 million beneficiaries will see the 2.8 percent COLA applied beginning with their January 2026 payments.
- SSI Recipients: Increased payments for nearly 7.5 million people receiving SSI will begin slightly earlier, on December 31, 2025. (Note: Some recipients receive both Social Security and SSI benefits.)
The Social Security Act determines the COLA calculation by tying the annual adjustment to the change in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), as calculated by the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In addition to the benefit increase, other adjustments based on the rise in average wages will take effect in January 2026:
- Taxable Maximum: The maximum earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) is scheduled to increase from $176,100 to $184,500.
Accessing Your New Benefit Information
Social Security begins notifying recipients about their new benefit amount by mail starting in early December.
Beneficiaries who wish to view their new COLA notice online—a secure, fast, and easy option—can do so by setting up a personal my Social Security’s .
- Online Access: To view your COLA notice online, you must have a personal my Social Security account. You can set up text or email alerts for when your notice is available in the Message Center.
- Medicare Information: For beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare, the 2026 benefit amount will be available via the my Social Security Message Center starting in late November. Information on Medicare changes for 2026 will also be available at www.medicare.gov.
To get started with an online account, visit www.ssa.gov/myaccount.
