The 2026 COLA increase has not been announced yet
Social Security announces the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for the following year in October of the current year. This means the 2026 increase will be announced in October 2025. Until that announcement happens, no one knows the exact percentage.
The increase is calculated based on inflation data from July, August, and September of each year. If inflation stays low during those months, the increase will be small. If inflation rises, the increase will be larger. The Social Security Administration does not estimate or project the COLA ahead of time—they wait for the final numbers.
You will see the 2026 amount on the Social Security Administration's official website starting in mid-October 2025. News outlets will also report it widely. If you receive SSDI now, you do not need to do anything; the new amount will be added to your payment automatically in January 2026.
Key Takeaways
- The 2026 COLA will be announced in October 2025 and takes effect in January 2026.
- The increase depends entirely on inflation measured from July through September 2025.
- Recent COLA increases have ranged from 0% (2016, 2017) to 8.7% (2023), so the 2026 amount could be anywhere in that range or different.
- If you receive SSDI, the new amount appears in your January 2026 payment with no action needed on your part.
- You can check ssa.gov in October 2025 or call 1-800-772-1213 to confirm the exact percentage once it is released.
How the COLA is calculated
The Social Security Administration uses the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. They take the average CPI-W for July, August, and September of the current year and compare it to the average for those same three months in the previous year. The percentage difference becomes the COLA.
This method means the COLA reflects what actually happened to prices in the real economy during that specific three-month window. It is not a prediction or an estimate. If prices rose 3% on average during those months, the COLA is 3%. If prices fell, the COLA is 0% (Social Security does not reduce payments based on deflation).
Because inflation varies month to month and year to year, the COLA changes every year. There is no way to know the 2026 amount until the summer months of 2025 have passed and the data is final.
What recent COLA increases have been
Looking at the past ten years shows the range of increases that have occurred:
| Year | COLA Increase |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 3.2% |
| 2023 | 8.7% |
| 2022 | 5.9% |
| 2021 | 1.3% |
| 2020 | 1.3% |
| 2019 | 2.8% |
| 2018 | 2.0% |
| 2017 | 0.3% |
| 2016 | 0.0% |
| 2015 | 1.7% |
The highest increase in this period was 8.7% in 2023, when inflation spiked. The lowest was 0% in 2016, when prices were essentially flat. The 2026 increase could fall anywhere within this historical range or outside it, depending on what happens to inflation between now and September 2025.
When you will see the increase in your payment
If the 2026 COLA is announced in October 2025, the new payment amount takes effect in January 2026. Your January 2026 payment will reflect the increase. You do not need to contact Social Security or take any action to receive it.
If you have questions about your specific payment amount after the increase is announced, you can call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). Representatives are available Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern time. You can also create an account at ssa.gov and view your payment information online.
Why you cannot predict the 2026 COLA now
Some people try to estimate the COLA by looking at current inflation rates or economic forecasts. This does not work because the COLA is based on specific months (July, August, September) that have not yet happened. Inflation could rise, fall, or stay steady between now and then. Economic forecasts change frequently and are often wrong.
The only reliable source for the 2026 COLA is the official announcement from the Social Security Administration in October 2025. Until then, any number you see is a guess, not a fact.
What the increase means for your SSDI payment
If you receive SSDI, the COLA increase applies to your benefit amount. For example, if your current monthly payment is $1,200 and the 2026 COLA is 3%, your new payment would be $1,236 per month starting in January 2026. The increase is automatic and requires no paperwork from you.
The COLA also affects the maximum family benefit amount and the earnings limit for people who work while receiving SSDI. These changes take effect at the same time as the individual payment increase.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I find out the 2026 COLA before October 2025?
No. The Social Security Administration does not release the COLA until October, and it is based on inflation data from the summer months that have not yet occurred. Any estimate you see before October is a guess, not an official figure.
What if I disagree with the COLA amount announced?
The COLA is calculated by a mathematical formula using official government inflation data. There is no process to dispute or appeal it. If you believe there is an error in how it was calculated, you can contact the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 to ask for an explanation.
Does the COLA increase explore to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) as well?
The COLA applies to SSDI benefits. SSI (Supplemental Security Income) is a different program with its own rules. SSI recipients do receive an increase tied to the COLA, but it is calculated differently and may not be the same percentage.
Will the 2026 COLA be higher or lower than 2025?
There is no way to know until October 2025. The 2025 COLA will be announced in October 2024. Once you know that number, you still cannot predict 2026 because inflation changes year to year based on economic conditions.
What happens to my payment if there is no COLA in 2026?
If inflation is flat or negative, the COLA can be 0%, meaning no increase. Your payment would stay the same as 2025. This happened in 2016 and 2017. Social Security does not reduce payments when there is no COLA—they straightforward do not increase.