The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) primarily affects Social Security by providing significant tax relief for seniors, not changing core benefits, through a temporary (2025-2028) additional deduction for those 65+ that aims to eliminate federal income tax on benefits for most retirees. This deduction allows individuals to deduct up to $6,000 ($12,000 for couples) from taxable income, phasing out for higher earners, making nearly 90% of seniors tax-free on their Social Security, and also makes the 2017 tax cuts permanent.
The new senior deduction allows seniors to deduct from taxable income, up to $6,000 individually or $12,000 if married filing jointly. To qualify, filers must provide their Social Security number on their tax return and be at least 65 years old.
Your Social Security benefit could increase significantly under the Social Security Fairness Act, depending on your work history, with estimates showing average boosts of around $360/month (WEP-affected) to $1,190/month (GPO-affected), plus retroactive lump-sum payments back to January 2024, as the Act repealed the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) for many public servants. The exact amount varies, from small increases to over $1,000 monthly, impacting those with non-Social Security pensions, and you should receive a notice from the SSA.
The Social Security Fairness Act eliminates this reduction of Social Security benefits due to a public pension from work not covered by Social Security. It restores the full retirement and disability benefits for those previously subject to the WEP penalty.
The COLA was 2.5 percent in 2025. Nearly 71 million Social Security beneficiaries will see a 2.8 percent COLA beginning in January 2026. Increased payments to nearly 7.5 million people receiving SSI will begin on December 31, 2025. (Note: Some people receive both Social Security benefits and SSI).
Six Changes to Social Security in 2026
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.
In the proposals presented to the Commission, the use of retirement bonds--and annuities based on bond accumulations- would also replace the entire benefit structure of Social Security for the future.
This bill makes minor, temporary changes to tax deductions. Trump's bill eliminates incentives for renewable energy. As a result, the average utility bill in New York will increase by $140 every year until 2030. The $7,500 tax credit for electric vehicles will expire on September 30, 2025.
Bush financed income tax cuts and the Iraq war by plundering money from Social Security.
For the average retired worker, the 2.8 percent COLA is expected to increase their monthly benefit by about $56. This will raise the average payment from approximately $2,008 in 2025 to about $2,064 in 2026. Social Security retirement beneficiaries will see this increase reflected in their January 2026 payments.
All Social Security beneficiaries – retired workers, workers with disabilities, eligible family members, and survivors – may be eligible for the stimulus payment.
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.
Stimulus payments
Single taxpayers with an adjusted gross income (AGI) of $75,000 or below. Taxpayers filing as heads of household with AGIs of $112,500 or below. Married couples filing jointly with AGIs of $150,000 or below.
When will a person see their Social Security benefit increase because of the Social Security Fairness Act? Starting February 25, 2025: SSA began adjusting monthly benefit payments to people whose benefits have been affected by the WEP and GPO.
If Social Security isn't enough, you should supplement your income through other savings (401k, IRAs, brokerage accounts), explore government aid like SSI, SNAP, and Medicaid, consider working part-time, use programs like NCOA's BenefitsCheckUp to find assistance, potentially delay claiming benefits for a higher monthly payout, or look into annuities for guaranteed income.
The 2.8 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to nearly 71 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2026. Increased payments to nearly 7.5 million SSI recipients will begin on December 31, 2025. (Note: Some people receive both Social Security and SSI benefits.)