2026 SOCIAL SECURITY COLA AND OTHER SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS INFORMATION
Barry Weller
2026 SOCIAL SECURITY COLA
On 10/24/2025, the Social Security Administration announced the cost-of-living adjustment for 2026 will be an increase of 2.8%. The 2026 COLA was originally scheduled to be released on 10/15/2025 and was delayed due to the impact of the government shutdown. Although the shutdown is ongoing, some employees at the Bureau of Labor Statistics were recalled to prepare the September Consumer Price Index (CPI), which is essential to computing the 2026 COLA amount. According to the SSA, the 2.8% increase will translate to an additional $56 for the average retiree, resulting in an average monthly check of $2,071, up from $2,015 in 2025. Married couples will see an average increase of $88, raising their monthly benefit to $3,208 from $3,120 in 2025.
Historic COLA and average benefit amounts
DOES DEFERRING CLAIMING SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS INCREASE MY BENEFIT AMOUNT WHEN I CLAIM THEM LATER?
If you are full retirement age and have not yet begun claiming your Social Security Benefit, one way to ensure a larger monthly Social Security benefit is to delay claiming your benefit until age 70. You receive an extra 2/3 of 1% for each month you delay which equates to 8% for each full year.
The following is the Schedule of Social Security Benefit Payments in 2026:
2026 SOCIAL SECURITY (OASDI) TAXES ON EARNINGS
For those still working in 2026, the Social Security Administration will also be raising the maximum amount of earnings subject to Social Security Tax. The taxable maximum will go from $176,100 in 2025 to $184,500 in 2026.
Barry L Weller, EA is the president of Barry Weller & Associates with offices at 19 N Reading Ave, Boyertown, PA 19512 Phone (610) 367-8280 He is an enrolled agent, licensed to represent taxpayers before the IRS. (updated 10/30/2025)