Retirees Will See a 2.8% COLA Next Year, But Don’t Get Too Excited

Social Security recipients are weeks away from getting a benefits boost. The Social Security Administration has announced a 2.8 percent cost-of-living adjustment for 2026. That’s certainly better than the 2.5 percent retirees have received this year.

While an increase may seem like something to celebrate, a MSN report shows this is actually pretty standard. Over the past 10 years, the average COLA has been 2.8 percent. And if you look back to when Social Security first started providing an annual COLA in 1975, next year’s COLA is actually quite low. The average overtime has been 3.6 percent.

We here at The Seniors Trust want seniors’ benefits to keep up with inflation. And that will happen when Congress enacts the Social Security Expansion Act. In addition to providing a fair annual COLA, this landmark piece of legislation will give retirees an immediate benefits increase of about $200 a month, increased minimum benefits, and ensure the long-term solvency of the Social Security program.