The more than 70 million Americans who receive Social Security benefits are expected to see a slightly larger bump in their monthly checks next year than they did in 2025.

Each year, Social Security benefits are subject to an annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) based on inflation rates to ensure that monthly payments keep pace with rising costs.

Social Security recipients received a 2.5% COLA in 2025 , a notable drop from the 3.2% COLA in 2024 and a significant decrease from the 8.7% COLA in 2023, which was the largest increase in four decades.

For next year, using current inflation data from the Consumer Price Index, it’s estimated there will be a 2.7% COLA in 2026, according to The Senior Citizens League.

The projected increase is relatively in line with past increases, wit

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