2026 Social Security COLA
SSA’s official COLA for benefits paid in 2026 is 2.8%. SSA announced it on Oct. 24, 2025. This page is the 2026 archive; 2027 lives on its own hub.
Official COLA
2.8%
Previous Q3 CPI-W
308.729
Q3 2024
Current Q3 CPI-W
317.265
Q3 2025
2026 official inputs
Item
COLA
- Value
- 2.8%
- Status
- Official
Item
Announcement date
- Value
- Oct. 24, 2025
- Status
- Official
Item
Q3 2024 average
- Value
- 308.729
- Status
- Official
Item
Q3 2025 average
- Value
- 317.265
- Status
- Official
Item
Social Security increase
- Value
- January 2026 benefits
- Status
- Official
Item
SSI increase
- Value
- Dec. 31, 2025 payment
- Status
- Official
| Item | Value | Status |
|---|---|---|
| COLA | 2.8% | Official |
| Announcement date | Oct. 24, 2025 | Official |
| Q3 2024 average | 308.729 | Official |
| Q3 2025 average | 317.265 | Official |
| Social Security increase | January 2026 benefits | Official |
| SSI increase | Dec. 31, 2025 payment | Official |
Average benefit examples
Near year-end 2025, SSA estimated the average retired-worker benefit would move from about $2,015 to $2,072 with the 2.8% COLA. That was a year-end estimate. SSA’s July 2026 Monthly Statistical Snapshot shows the actual average retired-worker benefit at $2,085.98. Do not treat those two figures as the same number.
What was the 2026 COLA?
2.8%.
Official 2026 figures come from SSA. Calculator estimates on other pages are not 2026 determinations.