Just as retirees exhale after a year of tightening belts amid stubborn inflation, the Social Security Administration (SSA) delivered its latest lifeline: a 2.8% COLA boost for 2026 that adds an average of $56 to monthly retirement benefits, lifting the typical check from $2,015 to $2,071 starting January. Announced October 24, 2025, after a government shutdown delay, this adjustment—tied to the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)—promises relief for 75 million beneficiaries, including a $27 … Continue reading Why Officials Fear the $56 COLA Boost in 2026 — Plus the Big Mistake Retirees Can’t Make