Retirees Are Likely to Receive an Above-Average Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) in 2026, But They Shouldn't Celebrate Yet.

A big COLA isn't necessarily good news for most retirees.

More than 58 million seniors collect Social Security retirement or survivor benefits every month. For many, it's not just a monthly check, but a lifeline to ensure they can make ends meet in retirement. The Social Security Administration estimates 39% of men and 44% of women over age 65 receive at least half of their income from the government program.

For those households, the annual cost-of-living adjustment ( COLA ) is extremely important. It's meant to ensure they can keep up with their bills and pay for groceries every week. While we won't receive the official COLA number until mid-October, there's good reason to expect next year's benefits bump to come in above the average for the past 15 years.

But retirees collecting