Every year the Social Security Administration calculates how inflation affects the cost of living and then adjusts benefits for the near 75 million Americans depending on those benefits to survive.

This calculation is crucial for Americans who budget their expenses based on Social Security.

Recently, the Social Security Administration confirmed a 2.8% cost‑of‑living adjustment for 2026 — a rate higher than analysts previously predicted .

Read more: Social Security benefits: Who would qualify for a $200 monthly increase

For the average retired worker receiving Social Security, monthly benefits will rise by roughly $56, bringing the average check to about $2,064 beginning in January 2026.

SSI recipients will see increased payments beginning Dec. 31, 2025, because the first o

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