ARLINGTON, Virginia — Social Security recipients will see a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in 2026, but advocates for older adults said the increase will be wiped out by higher Medicare premiums and rising living expenses.

The National Council on Aging (NCOA) on Friday called the adjustment “woefully insufficient,” warning that the increase doesn’t keep pace with what many older Americans actually need to live on.

“COLA might reflect the inflation rate, but it is woefully insufficient for older Americans who already have high health care costs and are facing even greater increases in their Medicare costs in 2026,” NCOA President and CEO Ramsey Alwin said in a statement. “This 2.8% COLA will not even cover the projected increases in Medicare premiums and deductibles, which are e

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