What the 2026 Social Security increase will be

Social Security payments rise each year based on inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). The increase for 2026 has not yet been announced because it depends on inflation data collected through September 2025. The Social Security Administration will publish the exact percentage in October 2025, and the raise takes effect in January 2026.

The 2025 increase was 3.2 percent. The 2024 increase was 3.2 percent. The 2023 increase was 8.7 percent — the largest in four decades, driven by high inflation in 2022. The 2026 increase will reflect what inflation actually was in the months leading up to the announcement, not a prediction or average.

If you receive Social Security retirement, disability (SSDI), or survivor benefits, the raise applies automatically. You do nothing. The new payment amount appears in your account on the third day of the month after the announcement — typically January 3, 2026.

Key Takeaways

  • The 2026 Social Security increase will be announced in October 2025 and reflects inflation measured through September 2025.
  • The raise applies to all Social Security beneficiaries automatically — retirement, disability, and survivor benefits all receive the same percentage increase.
  • The new payment amount takes effect in January 2026 and appears in your account on the third day of the month.
  • Medicare Part B premiums may increase at the same time, which can offset part of your Social Security raise.
  • The increase is based on actual inflation data, not a fixed formula or prediction, so the percentage varies year to year.

How the increase is calculated

The Social Security Administration uses the CPI-W, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, to measure inflation. This index tracks prices for food, housing, transportation, medical care, and other goods and services that urban wage earners and clerical workers buy. It is updated monthly.

The calculation compares the average CPI-W for the third quarter of the current year (July, August, September) to the average for the third quarter of the previous year. If inflation has occurred, the percentage increase is applied to all benefit amounts. If inflation has not occurred — deflation — benefits do not decrease. Social Security has a hold-harmless provision that prevents benefit cuts.

This means if deflation occurs, most beneficiaries receive no raise that year, but their benefit amount does not fall. The only exception is beneficiaries who are newly may be able to access or whose benefits are recalculated for other reasons — they may see a lower amount than the previous year's beneficiary received.

When the announcement happens and when you see the money

The Social Security Administration announces the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in October each year. For 2026, the announcement will occur in early October 2025. The announcement includes the percentage increase and the new average benefit amounts for each category: retired workers, disabled workers, and survivors.

The new payment amount takes effect on January 1, 2026, but you will not see it in your account until the payment date in January. Social Security pays beneficiaries on different days depending on their birth date. If you were born on the 1st through the 10th of any month, you are paid on the second Wednesday of each month. If you were born on the 11th through the 20th, you are paid on the third Wednesday. If you were born on the 21st through the 31st, you are paid on the fourth Wednesday. Your January payment will reflect the 2026 increase.

If you receive your benefit by direct deposit, the money arrives in your bank account on your payment date. If you receive a check, it arrives by mail a few days after your payment date. If you receive a debit card (the Direct Express card), the funds load on your payment date.

How Medicare premiums affect your net increase

If you are enrolled in Medicare Part B, your premium may increase at the same time your Social Security benefit increases. The Part B premium is deducted from your Social Security payment each month, so a higher premium reduces the amount you actually receive.

Medicare Part B covers doctor visits, outpatient care, and medical equipment. The standard premium for 2025 is $174.70 per month, but it varies based on your income. Higher-income beneficiaries pay more. The 2026 premium has not been announced yet and will be released in the fall of 2025, around the same time as the Social Security increase.

In some years, the Social Security increase is larger than the Medicare premium increase, so your net payment rises. In other years, the increases are similar, and your net gain is small. The Social Security Administration publishes the new Medicare premium amount in the same October announcement as the COLA, so you can see both figures at once.

What happens if you work while receiving benefits

If you are under full retirement age and working, Social Security reduces your benefit by $1 for every $2 you earn above the annual earnings limit. For 2025, that limit is $23,400. The limit increases each year based on wage growth. In the year you reach full retirement age, the reduction is $1 for every $3 earned above a higher limit ($62,160 for 2025), and the reduction only applies to earnings before the month you reach full retirement age.

The 2026 Social Security increase applies to your benefit amount, but the earnings limit will also increase. The Social Security Administration announces both the COLA and the new earnings limit in October 2025. If you are working, check the new limit to see whether your earnings will trigger a reduction in 2026.

Once you reach full retirement age, the earnings limit no longer applies, and you receive your full benefit amount regardless of how much you work.

How the increase affects your taxes

If your combined income — adjusted gross income plus nontaxable interest plus half your Social Security benefit — exceeds certain thresholds, part of your Social Security benefit is taxable. For 2025, the thresholds are $25,000 for single filers and $32,000 for married couples filing jointly.

The 2026 increase in your benefit amount may push your combined income above the threshold, which means more of your benefit becomes taxable. The amount of tax owed depends on your other income sources and your filing status. If you are concerned about this, you can ask the Social Security Administration to withhold federal income tax from your benefit, or you can make quarterly estimated tax payments to the IRS.

The income thresholds themselves do not increase with inflation, so over time, more beneficiaries cross the threshold and owe tax on their benefits. This is sometimes called "bracket creep," though it is not a tax bracket in the traditional sense.

How to find out the exact 2026 increase

The Social Security Administration publishes the 2026 COLA in early October 2025 on its official website, ssa.gov. You can also call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to ask about the increase. If you create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov, you can view your benefit statement, which will show your new payment amount once the increase takes effect in January 2026.

Your annual Social Security statement, mailed each year or available through your my Social Security account, shows your estimated benefits and the history of your earnings record. It does not predict the 2026 increase, but it gives you a baseline to compare against once the announcement is made.

Some financial advisors and news outlets publish estimates of the 2026 increase based on inflation data through August or September, but these are predictions, not official figures. The only official announcement comes from the Social Security Administration in October 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my 2026 Social Security increase be higher or lower than 2025?

That depends on inflation between September 2024 and September 2025. If inflation is higher than it was in that period last year, the 2026 increase will be higher. If inflation is lower, the 2026 increase will be lower. The Social Security Administration will announce the exact percentage in October 2025.

Do I have to do anything to receive the 2026 increase?

No. The increase is automatic. If you receive Social Security, the new payment amount will appear in your account in January 2026 without any action on your part. You do not need to contact Social Security or fill out any forms.

What if I disagree with the increase amount?

The increase is based on inflation data published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a federal agency that measures prices independently. Social Security does not have discretion to change the percentage. If you believe your benefit amount is calculated incorrectly for other reasons — such as a missing year of earnings or a wrong birth date — you can contact Social Security to request a review of your record.

Will the 2026 increase cover the cost of living?

The Social Security increase is based on inflation measured by the CPI-W, which tracks prices for urban wage earners. Your personal cost of living may be higher or lower depending on where you live, what you spend money on, and whether your expenses have risen faster or slower than the national average. The increase is designed to prevent your benefit from losing purchasing power, but it may not match your individual situation.

Can I delay my Social Security to get a larger benefit instead of the 2026 increase?

If you have not yet claimed Social Security, delaying your claim increases your benefit by about 8 percent per year until age 70. This is separate from the annual cost-of-living adjustment. Once you claim, you receive both the annual COLA and the delayed-claim credit built into your benefit amount. Speak with a financial advisor or Social Security representative about whether delaying makes sense for your situation.