Social Security recipients will receive a monthly Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) of 2.8% in 2026. This percentage is slightly higher than the 2.5% COLA for 2025. The Social Security Administration estimates that average monthly payments for beneficiaries will rise from $2,015 to $2,071, an increase of around $56.
This larger increase reflects rising inflation rates. The COLA is based on the increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), which calculates the impact of inflation on the 29% of American households populated by clerical and hourly wage workers.
CPI-W is also used to determine changes in federal income tax brackets.
The chart below shows the changes in average monthly benefits for different categories of recipients.
This article was authored by David Jaeger and Jeffrey Briskin. David is a financial advisor with Canby Financial Advisors, a SEC-registered investment adviser. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement by the SEC nor a statement about any skill or training. David can be reached at 508.598.1082 or djaeger@canbyfinancial.com. Jeffrey Briskin is Director of Marketing at Canby Financial Advisors.
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