What You Need to Know & What You Should Do
1. Don’t Assume Net Gain = COLA
Even if 2026 COLA ends up at 2.7%, the raise might not fully translate to more disposable income. If Medicare premiums (or other withholdings) rise more, your net benefit could feel flat—or worse, drop in real terms.
2. Monitor the October Announcement
Mark your calendar: SSA typically announces the final COLA in mid-October (lately, October 24 has been cited). Once the CPI for September is published, the COLA is finalized.
3. Estimate Your Personal Increase
To forecast your own increase:
Expected Raise = Your Current Benefit × Projected COLA percentage
For example, if you receive $2,000/month:
- If COLA = 2.5% → +$50
- If COLA = 2.7% → +$54
4. Build in Buffer for Premiums
Because premiums may climb, plan for a scenario where your net increase is lower than the COLA. Your “take-home bump” may fall short of expectations.
5. Watch Legislative or Rule Changes
There are proposals (or internal SSA policies) to modify how COLAs are computed (e.g. reducing COLA by 0.5 pp starting December 2026), or shift indices, which could dampen future increases.
Final Thoughts
- The 2025 COLA has been locked in at 2.5%, giving beneficiaries a modest raise beginning January 2025.
- The 2026 COLA is not yet official, but the prevailing projection is ~2.7%, slightly higher than 2025.
- However, inflation trends, September CPI results, and increases in Medicare or other premiums could reduce the real benefit of the COLA.
- For beneficiaries, the key is not just watching the percentage, but how much of that increase actually remains after deductions.
5 Responses
guess I have to save for another year to get my private jet (LOL)
Our government should be ashamed of the minute increase they are ‘giving’ us with our money. They never blink to give billions to a country that would p– on us if we were on fire.
2.7% in today’s economy won’t substantially feed a retired couple for a day or two, especially after they take the raise out faster than they put it in to pay Medicare. The saddest part is that too many are getting Medicare who never put in a penny and are receiving maximum benefits.
This is a disgrace, abused, a joke, and a shame that we get insulted with this 2.7%…..when they are getting interest from the money they had collected when we were working. The minimum we should get is 5% for our Seniors of all the money we gave you through our whole life. Trump love to give money to countries like Argentina…that is our taxes. You fool.
I am tired of hearing people complain about the way things are. You get what you voted for! If you don’t like what is happening than stop complaining and vote the people out of office who have so little regard for the welfare of senior citizens. Don’t say this not about politics because it is and the day many of us realize it the sooner, we will see the changes you would like to see.
Definitely a shameful amount for those of us who are struggling to keep up with inflation. Also shameful is the fact that we are paying so much in taxes to aid and abet the millions of illegal aliens who suck the air out of us with free medical, schooling etc…