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.
24 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.
Thank you for speaking up on this. When they do the COLA every year they might as well not even tell us the lousy 2.7 or 2.8 will be going to Medicare and heaven forbid we have a house note, car payment, utilities, supplemental insurance another 200 out of your check for expenses that Medicare will not pay for.
Sometime I wonder if they just us to go away and just die.
2.7% IS A DISGRACE. We all paid into SS and it is not an entitlement. We have been systematically robbed every year by inflation, illegal handouts and lies about SS and everything else. Inflation under Biden is through the roof! We need 10% raise or even more! But they would rather give our hard earned money to other countries for wars they will not stop or illegals who do not deserve a penny. Stay home!!
Damn right it should be given to the families that work their asses off to get where they are not free handouts im 69 worked all my life and all I get is 597.00 a month which is BS
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.
“Thanks-TRUE”
Geee, I wonder which side of the isle your on. If money is printed and given to masses inflation really quick 1-2 yrs follows. You print money send it overseas then inflation slowly bleeds back to printing country. Pick your poison.
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.
Today is Tues. 4 Nov, VOTE for change!
Completely agree with you, Bob. I find it difficult to comprehend how some individuals can remain unaware and uninformed despite the current circumstances we face, while still justifying the situation in our country. Remember, the decisions you make will impact your life. Instead of complaining and expressing dissatisfaction, take action.
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…
I Started paying in 1974 and it’s pitiful what I am receiving in 2025.
COLA was even less than we getting now under the other party
its less because inflation is less dont think other party did you a favor that 9.1 %inflation wr had doesnt go away it gets piled on thank god its only 2.7 -3% now but over the 2 years is like 13%so dont blame current administration which at least is giving tax break on ss
True the last administration had 4 years to give out big raises and all they did is take our hard earned money and spent it on illegals and other countries (Zelenskyy) there favorite kickback man
you can thank the illegals who got plenty, maybe it would of made ours higher, but they took plenty and want more for nothing put in
Completely agree with you, Bob. I find it difficult to comprehend how some individuals can remain unaware and uninformed despite the current circumstances we face, while still justifying the situation in our country. Remember, the decisions you make will impact your life. Instead of complaining and expressing dissatisfaction, take action.
We are no longer living in a democracy. We are living in a plutocracy where the rich corporations own the executive, legislative and judicial system. They pay little to no taxes and send you on a wild goose chase about illegals taking your money. Corporations are people thanks to the supreme court rulings, and corporations are rich people thanks to the citizens united ruling. One person with a million dollars can be more powerful than a million people with one dollar! I would say wake up but it’s too late now!!
VOTE REPUBLICAN FOOL
They give us a measly raise and then, of course, Medicare goes up and there goes our raise
I agree with most of the comments even if partially. I’ve been working since 1965 when I was 16. I get less than some and not much more than some. I don’t know why. I am 100% disabled so will never be of any real use to most companies. My mother lived to be 100. She started working when she was 15 until she was about 75 or maybe older and didn’t get any more than I did. And she was a licensed nurse. No one can explain any of this to anyone and have us agree with them.
I think that a disabled widow and widower starting at age 50 deserves to draw 100% of their spouse retirement benefits,( that law needs to change) because of there disability and not able to work. and I think it should be more Than just $50 A raise that you’re giving out this year .And that somehow 50$ will be taking back out because of healthcare, it takes income at least over $3000 a month to make it .with rent being high ,food and gas being high ,it’s nearly impossible for someone that is making less than that $1000 or 2000 a month .we just can’t make it . It’s hard enough that we lost our spouse and even harder to make it on a low income ,so please ,I’d like for you all to consider raising Pay to are widows and widowers of a income to 3000 a month .so we won’t be forced out of our homes and into low income homes were violence are always happening ..i’d like for you to please considered this ,so that we can live in our stable neighborhoods , and also going to write a letter to our congressman about this situation .thank you so very much.
I think widows and widowers that are disabled at age 50 deserves to draw 100% of Survivor income ,I think people should make at least $3000 a month . Instead of the low income that we are making now , with that much it will reset are Economy and people can afford their healthcare, if it was raise that much a month ,with additional money added on each year because of cost of living. it is nearly impossible for someone that is making less than $2000 a month. I’d really would appreciate it and I’m sure other widows and widowers would too .So I like for social Security department to consider raising the pay for the widows and widowers to 100% of the surviving spouse benefits. Thank you so much