The Senior Citizens League (TSCL), a nonpartisan senior group, recently released their monthly COLA estimate, predicting that it would moderate to 2.1% in 2026.

Social Security cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, went into effect recently and was reflected on the payments received in January. Each year, Social Security benefits are adjusted to keep up with inflation (if there is any),

Social Security’s cost-of-living adjustment is expected to shrink in 2026 and could be the lowest increase seen in a decade.

If you’re struggling, it may be time to rethink your spending, downsize, relocate, or go back to work. Retiring early is possible, and may be easier than you think.

The recently passed Social Security Fairness Act will result in increases for workers who previously had benefits reduced due to the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and spouses of these workers who had benefits reduced under the Government Pension Offset (GPO).

The average Social Security payment will rise by more than $50 per month starting in January, thanks to the federal government’s 3.2% annual cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA. A 3.2% increase in the average Social Security check—about $1,

The Social Security cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, for 2025 is a 2.5% increase. That means the monthly benefits checks for more than 72.5 million Americans will see their lowest annual bump in four years. While the smaller COLA is due to the normalization of annual inflation rates, many beneficiaries are concerned.

Technically speaking, this is the 2024 COLA, as it goes into effect in December 2024. However, because Social Security is paid a month in arrears, this increase will be reflected in the payment that beneficiaries receive in January. For this reason, it is often referred to as the 2025 COLA.

We're officially in 2025, so expect your next Social Security check to reflect the COLA increase.