Social Security COLA 2026: Some States Get Larger Raises — See the Ranking
As the ink dries on the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) October 24, 2025, announcement of a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2026, retirees and beneficiaries nationwide are calculating their January boosts—averaging $56 more monthly for retirement checks, lifting the typical payout from $2,015 to $2,071. But here’s the twist: while the percentage hike is uniform across the U.S., the actual dollar amount varies wildly by state, thanks to differences in lifetime earnings and median benefits. High-wage hubs like Connecticut will …