Social Security and Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries will soon find out how much their benefit checks will increase next year.

Due to the federal government shutdown, the Social Security 2026 cost-of-living adjustment announcement, initially scheduled for Oct. 15, has been postponed to Friday . Nearly 75 million beneficiaries will see the COLA reflected in their January checks.

Experts have estimated the Social Security COLA for 2026 may be in the range of 2.7% to 2.8% , based on the latest available consumer price index data. That's in line with the long-term average. But for retirees and other beneficiaries who rely on their benefit payments to cover essential expenses, the size of the increase might not ease their struggle with higher prices.

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