The wait is unlikely to be worth the reward for most retirees.

Under normal circumstances, this would be the most-anticipated week of the year for the more than 70 million traditional beneficiaries currently receiving a monthly Social Security payout .

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) had been scheduled to release the September inflation report on Oct. 15 at 08:30 a.m., ET, which is the final puzzle piece needed for the Social Security Administration (SSA) to announce the 2026 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). But due to factors beyond the SSA's and BLS's control, which I'll touch on in a moment, this highly awaited reveal has been delayed.

If you're a retired worker, worker with a long-term disability, or a survivor of a deceased worker who's currently receiving monthly So

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