2026 Social Security COLA On Track to Be $3,792 Short

The 2026 COLA will be smaller than it should be, and retirees will feel the pinch.

Cost-of-Living Adjustments are one of the most important features of the Social Security benefits program. Many retirees rely on Social Security to help them cover their essential expenses, and it's important that these retirement benefits don't lose buying power and put seniors in a tough spot. Since the price of goods and services increases each year, benefits must also rise -- and the COLA is what makes that happen.

Unfortunately, the current evidence points to the fact that the 2026 COLA will be far short of where it needs to be for retirees to truly maintain the standard of living that Social Security used to provide.

Here's the problem with next year's Cost of Living Adjustment, along with some