Social Security, COLA

Social Security COLA latest prediction for 2026: Bad news for retirees?
The non-partisan advocacy group The Senior Citizens League predicts the 2026 COLA will be 2.1%, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ CPI-W, the index used to calculate the annual increase. December’s CPI-W came in at 2.8%. Getty Images
Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Update: Here's the Projected Increase for 2026
By now, all seniors on Social Security should have gotten their first checks for 2025. With the latest 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in effect, the average benefit has climbed to $1,976 per month. That's about $49 higher than the average in December 2024.
Why Your 2025 Social Security COLA Is Probably Too Small
If you receive Social Security benefits, you are getting a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) this year. This means your retirement benefits check is going to be bigger than it was before. That's the good news.
4 most worrisome things for retirees on Social Security as COLA disappoints — and how to prepare
For retirees, healthcare expenses are unavoidable and increasingly unaffordable. Fidelity Research says a 65-year-old retiring in 2024 can expect to spend an average of $165,000 on healthcare and medical expenses throughout retirement — a 5% jump over the previous year and more than double 2002’s estimate.
Social Security early COLA predictions are in: Will it help or hurt beneficiaries?
Data from TSCL’s 2024 Senior Survey shows 62% of older Americans worry their retirement income won’t even cover essentials such as groceries and medical bills. Will 2026's COLA increase help?
Two moves retirees may make now to boost their 2025 Social Security benefit checks
A 2.5% Social Security cost-of-living adjustment is the lowest increase to benefits since 2021. To increase those checks, retirees may consider two money moves.
Social Security is making $1,000 payments on Friday, Jan. 31: discover if you’re getting a check
January 2025 is almost at an end, but the Social Security Administration still has to make a final batch of payments.
Millions of Americans have received their first Social Security checks of 2025 — and they're bigger. But by enough?
American retirees are receiving their first Social Security checks of 2025, and yes, they’re bigger — but not by much. The 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) means the average monthly benefit has increased by about $50, bringing the typical check to $1,976.
Social Security's 2025 COLA Is Now a Reality. Here's How Much it Benefits the Average Senior
When you are on  Social Security, you can expect your retirement benefits to increase during most years. That’s because Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs) typically happen automatically from year to year.
Is the 2025 Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Really Enough for Retirees to Keep Up With Inflation?
The Social Security cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, added 2.5% to Social Security benefits in 2025. However, as Certified Financial Planner® Matt Frankel explains in this video, this might not be quite enough to help American retirees keep up with the rising cost of the goods and services they need the most.
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Social Security Update: Payments of Up to $5,108 to Be Paid This Week
Retirees who stop working at the Full Retirement Age, currently set at 67, can receive a maximum benefit of $4,018 per month.
3 Myths About Social Security That Can Cost You
Nearly 68 million Americans receive Social Security benefits each month. Here are three myths that can cause confusion and anxiety.