Social Security Benefits to Increase by 2.8% in 2026

October 28, 2025

The Social Security Administration has announced a 2.8% increase to the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2026. The increase will impact over 75 million Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients.

Payments will increase for those receiving SSI beginning December 31, 2025, while Social Security retirement benefits, which will increase by an average of $56 per month, will begin in January 2026. Nearly 71 million Social Security beneficiaries and about 7.5 million SSI recipients receive COLA benefits. The increase is only slightly higher than the 2.5% in 2025, though lower than the decade average of 3.1%.

“Social Security is a promise kept, and the annual cost-of-living adjustment is one way we are working to make sure benefits reflect today’s economic realities and continue to provide a foundation of security,” Social Security Commissioner Frank J. Bisignano said.

The administration also announced the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax will also increase from $176,100 to $184,500 in 2026. 

Beneficiaries will begin receiving notifications about the cost-of-living adjustment by mail in early December. Similar to 2025, the notice will be a simplified one-page letter in plain language with personalized figures. Beneficiaries with online My Social Security accounts can opt to receive digital notifications, with email or text alerts when new messages are posted.

Questions about your COLA benefits? Our experienced Social Security Disability lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton can help. To schedule a free consultation, call us today at 800-547-4LAW (4529) or submit our online contact form. With office locations in Baltimore and Owings Mills, Maryland, we proudly serve clients in the surrounding areas.