Recipients, including retirees and their spouses, as well as those who receive disability benefits and Supplemental Security Income, will see the additional benefit starting in January.

Social Security recipients will see several changes in 2026, including a cost-of-living adjustment and the elimination of paper checks. The full retirement age will increase in 2026, affecting those born in 1960 and later. The Social Security ...

The Social Security Administration on Friday announced a 2.8 percent cost-of-living adjustment for 2026, affecting benefits for 75 million Americans receiving Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income payments.

In its simplest form, Social Security's COLA is the near-annual "raise" passed along to beneficiaries to offset the impact of inflation (rising prices). If benefits weren't adjusted for the effects of inflation, Social Security recipients would see their income lose buying power most years.