The 2026 COLA will increase your monthly SSDI payment by a percentage set by Social Security in October 2025

Social Security announces the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) each October, and that percentage takes effect the following January. The 2026 COLA will be announced in October 2025, so the exact increase to your monthly check is not yet known. What you will receive depends on how much inflation the country experienced between the third quarter of 2024 and the third quarter of 2025—Social Security uses a specific inflation measure called the Consumer Price Index for Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) to calculate it.

If you receive SSDI, the increase applies automatically to your payment starting in January 2026. You do not need to do anything, and you will not receive a separate notice asking you to take action. Your new payment amount will appear in your bank account or on your payment card on the third day of the month, as usual.

Key Takeaways

  • The 2026 COLA percentage will be announced in October 2025 and will take effect on your January 2026 payment.
  • The increase is calculated using inflation data from mid-2024 through mid-2025, so the exact amount cannot be predicted now.
  • Your payment increases automatically—you do not need to contact Social Security or take any action.
  • You can check your current benefit amount and payment schedule by logging into your my Social Security account online.

How Social Security calculates the COLA percentage

Social Security uses the Consumer Price Index for Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) to measure inflation. This index tracks the cost of food, housing, transportation, medical care, and other goods and services that working people buy. Social Security compares the average CPI-W for July, August, and September of one year to the same three months of the previous year. That comparison becomes the COLA percentage.

For the 2026 COLA, Social Security will compare the average CPI-W for July through September 2025 to the average for July through September 2024. If prices rose 3 percent on average during that period, the COLA will be 3 percent. If prices rose 2 percent, the COLA will be 2 percent. The calculation is straightforward, but the inflation rate itself depends on economic conditions that change month to month.

This means the 2026 COLA cannot be predicted with certainty until October 2025, when Social Security publishes the official figure. Some financial websites and news outlets publish estimates based on inflation data through the current month, but these are projections, not guarantees.

When the 2026 increase takes effect

The 2026 COLA becomes part of your monthly payment starting in January 2026. Social Security sends payments on a schedule based on your birth date: people born on the 1st through the 10th of any month receive payment on the second Wednesday of each month, those born on the 11th through the 20th receive it on the third Wednesday, and those born on the 21st through the 31st receive it on the fourth Wednesday.

Your first payment with the 2026 COLA increase will arrive on your regular payment date in January 2026. If you receive your payment by direct deposit, the money will go into your bank account or payment card on that date. If you receive a paper check, it will arrive in the mail around the same time.

How much will your payment increase

The dollar amount of your increase depends on two things: the COLA percentage and your current monthly benefit amount. If your current SSDI payment is $1,200 per month and the COLA is 2.5 percent, your new payment will be $1,230 per month—a $30 increase. If the COLA is 3.5 percent, your new payment will be $1,242 per month—a $42 increase.

You can find your current monthly payment amount by logging into your my Social Security account at ssa.gov. Once you log in, select "Benefit verification" to see your current payment and payment schedule. This is the amount that will be increased by the 2026 COLA percentage.

Social Security will send you a notice in December 2025 showing your new payment amount and the COLA percentage that was applied. You do not need to wait for this notice to know your increase—once the COLA is announced in October 2025, you can calculate it yourself by multiplying your current payment by the percentage.

What happens if there is no COLA

In some years, inflation is flat or negative, and Social Security does not increase payments. This happened in 2010, 2011, and 2016. If inflation between July 2024 and July 2025 is zero or negative, there will be no COLA for 2026, and your payment will remain the same as it was in 2025.

Even if there is no COLA increase, your payment continues without interruption. You will still receive your full monthly benefit on your regular payment date.

How to prepare for the 2026 COLA announcement

In October 2025, Social Security will announce the 2026 COLA on its website and through news outlets. You can visit ssa.gov and look for the announcement, or you can check your my Social Security account, where the new payment amount will be displayed once it is official.

If you want to estimate what your increase might be before the announcement, you can watch inflation reports released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. These reports come out monthly and show the current CPI-W. Financial news websites often publish COLA estimates based on these reports, though the actual COLA will not be final until October 2025.

If you have questions about your specific payment or how the COLA affects your benefits, you can contact Social Security by phone at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visit your local Social Security office in person.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the 2026 COLA affect my Medicare premiums?

Medicare Part B and Part D premiums may change in 2026, but they are set separately from the COLA. However, Social Security has a rule called the "hold harmless" provision that prevents your Medicare premium increase from reducing your net SSDI payment. If your premium rises more than your COLA increase, Social Security will not deduct the full premium from your check.

Can I find out the 2026 COLA before October 2025?

No one knows the exact COLA until October 2025, but you can see estimates based on current inflation data. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics releases CPI-W reports monthly, and financial websites publish COLA projections based on these reports. Keep in mind that these are estimates and can change as new inflation data comes in.

What if I disagree with the COLA amount Social Security announces?

The COLA is calculated using a formula set by federal law, so there is no room for disagreement or appeal. If you believe Social Security made an error in calculating your specific payment amount, you can contact them to ask for a review, but the COLA percentage itself cannot be changed.

Does the 2026 COLA explore to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) as well?

Yes, SSI recipients also receive the same COLA percentage increase in January 2026. The COLA applies to all Social Security benefits—SSDI, retirement, survivor benefits, and SSI.