Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for 75 million Americans will increase 2.8 percent in 2026. The 2.8 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to nearly 71 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2026.
The 2026 Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) is 2.8%, announced by the Social Security Administration (SSA) in October 2025, resulting in higher monthly payments for beneficiaries starting in January 2026, alongside changes to SSI amounts and the taxable earnings limit. This increase helps offset inflation, though its sufficiency is debated, and Medicare Part B premiums also rose for 2026.
Yes, Social Security benefits will get a raise in 2026, with a 2.8% Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA), resulting in an average monthly increase of about $56 for retirees, bringing the average payment to around $2,064, starting with January 2026 payments. This adjustment is designed to help benefits keep pace with inflation, though higher Medicare Part B premiums might offset some of the increase for many beneficiaries.
Yes, Medicare costs are going up in 2026, with the standard Part B monthly premium increasing by $17.90 to $202.90, and the Part B deductible rising to $283; these increases are due to rising healthcare costs, affecting out-of-pocket expenses for many beneficiaries.
All Social Security beneficiaries – retired workers, workers with disabilities, eligible family members, and survivors – may be eligible for the stimulus payment.
Qualification for the $1,400 stimulus check (the third Economic Impact Payment) in 2021 depended on your 2021 Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) and filing status, with full amounts for single filers earning up to $75,000 (phasing out at $80,000) and joint filers up to $150,000 (phasing out at $160,000), plus $1,400 per dependent; you needed a valid Social Security Number and had to claim it as the Recovery Rebate Credit on your 2021 tax return if you missed the payment, with deadlines typically in April 2025.
Medicare Part B premiums will jump nearly 10% next year, the largest increase in four years and second-largest hike, in dollar terms, in the program's history. The standard monthly premium will be $202.90, an increase of $17.90 from this year, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
The extra $144 added to Social Security usually comes from the Medicare Part B Giveback benefit, offered by some Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans, which pays back some or all your Part B premium, showing up as extra money in your check if it's deducted from your Social Security. To qualify, you need Original Medicare (Parts A & B), pay your own Part B premium, live in a plan's service area, and enroll in a specific Medicare Advantage plan that offers this "rebate," with the amount varying by plan and location.
Yes, Social Security recipients received a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2025, but the bigger news is that they are getting a larger 2.8% COLA for 2026, announced in October 2025, which began with January 2026 payments, increasing average benefits by about $56 per month. The 2025 COLA was a smaller 2.5% increase, while the 2026 adjustment reflects moderating inflation, leading to higher payments starting in the new year.
The 2026 pay raise for general schedule (GS) employees will take effect during the first full pay period of 2026, which is January 11-24 for most employees. Before Christmas, President Trump signed an executive order implementing a one percent raise for most civilian employees, the smallest increase since 2021.
For 2026, the standard Medicare Part B premium increased to $202.90 per month, up $17.90 from 2025, and the annual deductible rose to $283, an increase of $26. Most people pay the standard premium, but higher earners pay an income-related surcharge (IRMAA). This rise is due to projected healthcare cost increases and utilization, though actions by CMS on certain drug spending helped lower the potential increase.
The Social Security Administration announced in October that beneficiaries will see a 2.8% increase in their monthly payments, known as the cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA. Individuals receiving Social Security benefits will notice the increase starting in January 2026.
You can avoid paying Medicare Part B premiums by delaying enrollment if you have creditable employer coverage (your own or spouse's job with 20+ employees) until that coverage ends (within 8 months to avoid penalties), or by qualifying for a Medicare Savings Program (MSP) to have state/federal funds pay for it due to low income. Other ways to save include using HSA funds, appealing high Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amounts (IRMAA) for life changes, or enrolling on time during your Initial Enrollment Period.
In 2026, Medicare brings higher costs for Parts A & B (premiums, deductibles), but also significant prescription drug savings, including a new $2,100 Part D out-of-pocket cap, continued $35 insulin cap, and new negotiated drug prices; plus, enhanced preventive care (like mental health/heart screenings) and stricter Medicare Advantage rules are coming, driven by the Inflation Reduction Act.
The $2,000 prescription cap for seniors is a real benefit from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) that began in 2025, setting a limit on out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for Medicare Part D enrollees, meaning beneficiaries pay no more than $2,000 annually for covered medications, with the cap increasing to $2,100 in 2026. This major change eliminates the "donut hole" and provides significant savings for seniors with high drug costs, allowing costs to be spread out monthly.
Yes, the Medicare Part D "donut hole" (coverage gap) is officially eliminated as of January 1, 2025, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, simplifying coverage into three phases: deductible, initial coverage, and catastrophic, with a new $2,000 out-of-pocket spending cap that eliminates the gap where higher costs used to occur.
Visit the IRS Get My Payment (GMP) portal at https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment to see if you can expect a 2021 Economic Impact Payment. The GMP portal will provide the date when your payment was or will be sent.
However, the payment amounts may vary, according to the IRS. The full credit amount is available to individual taxpayers with up to $75,000 in adjusted gross income and to married couples who file jointly with up to $150,000 for 2021.
Stimulus payments