Yes, Social Security benefits will be adjusted for 2026 with a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), beginning with payments in January 2026. This increase will add approximately $56 to the average monthly retirement check, though it may be partially offset by a 9.7% rise in Medicare Part B premiums.
Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Information for 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. Increased payments to nearly 7.5 million SSI recipients will begin on December 31, 2025.
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 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 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.
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.
I am receiving Social Security disability benefits. Will I get a stimulus check? Yes, you probably will if you earned less than $75,000 in either 2018 or 2019.
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.
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.
You get two Social Security checks in December if you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), not regular Social Security, because the January payment gets moved to late December (usually Dec 31) since January 1st (New Year's Day) is a federal holiday, resulting in a December 1st payment and a December 31st payment for January's benefits, with the later one often including the COLA increase.
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 average retiree's monthly expenses in the U.S. hover around $4,600 to $5,400, with younger retirees (65-74) spending more, often over $5,000 monthly, while those 75+ spend closer to $4,400 as transportation and entertainment costs decrease, though healthcare costs can rise, with housing, transportation, healthcare, and food being the biggest categories.
Yes, Social Security is giving extra money through the 2026 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA), which is a 2.8% increase for most beneficiaries starting in January 2026, raising the average retirement check by about $56 monthly due to higher inflation. This annual adjustment helps benefits keep pace with rising living costs, though some people might receive notices later in December.
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.
For 2026, the standard Medicare Part B premium is $202.90 per month, an increase from 2025, with higher-income earners paying more (Income-Related Monthly Adjustment or IRMAA). Most people qualify for premium-free Part A, but if not, premiums range from $311 to $565 monthly. Part D (drug) and Medicare Advantage (Part C) premiums vary by plan, though many MA plans have no additional premium beyond Part B.
Here's the full 2026 SSI schedule: Friday, Jan. 30, 2026 (Check for February 2026) Friday, Feb. 27, 2026(Check for March 2026) Wednesday, April 1, 2026 (Check for April 2026)
Social Security checks are increasing by 2.8% in January 2026 due to the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA), raising average payments by about $56 monthly, but higher Medicare Part B premiums (up to $202.90) will reduce the net gain. Other recent changes include retroactive payments for some affected by Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP)/Government Pension Offset (GPO), new bank account checks for SSI applicants, and upcoming shifts towards digital payments.
2026 Benefit Cost-of-Living Adjustment
There will be a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increase for 2026.