Recipients of Social Security received an increase in benefits in 2025, as they do every year. However, new economic data and policies could spell trouble.

Every year, the Social Security Administration, or SSA, examines inflation data and adjusts Social Security benefits accordingly. In short, the annual cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, is designed to help retirees keep up with the rising cost of goods and services.

When you are on  Social Security, you can expect your retirement benefits to increase during most years. That’s because Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs) typically happen automatically from year to year.

Social Security beneficiaries may face taxes if they have additional income sources or due to the COLA increase. Here's how to determine if you're affected.

Social Security beneficiaries have received annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) tied to a subset of the Consumer Price Index known as the CPI-W, which tracks the price of goods and services across the economy.

Social Security’s cost-of-living adjustment is expected to shrink in 2026 and could be the lowest increase seen in a decade.

The Senior Citizens League (TSCL), a nonpartisan senior group, recently released their monthly COLA estimate, predicting that it would moderate to 2.1% in 2026.

The average Social Security payment will rise by more than $50 per month starting in January, thanks to the federal government’s 3.2% annual cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA. A 3.2% increase in the average Social Security check—about $1,