Social Security 2026 COLA Confirmed: Updated Monthly Payments for Retirees, Spouses, Survivors & Disabled
The Social Security 2026 payment increase is now official, bringing a confirmed 2.8% Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) that will lift monthly checks for over 75 million Americans starting January 2026. This adjustment, announced by the Social Security Administration (SSA) on October 24, 2025, reflects a 2.76% rise in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), rounded up to provide essential relief against ongoing inflation pressures on groceries, housing, and healthcare. For retirees, spouses, survivors, and disabled …