Key Takeaways For 2026, the Senior Citizens League predicts a smaller cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security benefits compared to last year.They estimate that the COLA will be 2.1% in 2026, which is down from 2.

Almost all Social Security beneficiaries are familiar with the most popular and publicized change: the increase in monthly benefit checks for 2025 due to the automated cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA. As you already know, that increase will be 2.5%.

In a survey of 2,000 retirees, more than half said that the 2.5% COLA that just went into effect is insufficient. More than 80% say that the COLA won’t help them pay for living expenses. Inflation has been a major issue for retirees in recent years.

Key Points Social Security benefits got a 2.5% COLA in 2025. That raise is already trailing inflation. If you’re struggling, it may be time to rethink your spending, downsize, relocate, or go back to work.