The 2026 COLA will be announced in October 2025

Social Security announces the annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) each October for the following year. The 2026 COLA figure will be released on October 10, 2025. This means you will not know the exact increase to your SSDI payment until that date.

The COLA is calculated using the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), which measures inflation across food, housing, transportation, medical care, and other expenses. If inflation rose between the third quarter of 2024 and the third quarter of 2025, your benefit will increase by that same percentage in January 2026.

If there is no inflation during that period, there is no COLA — your payment stays the same. This has happened three times since 2000: in 2010, 2011, and 2016.

Key Takeaways

  • The 2026 COLA percentage will be announced on October 10, 2025, and any increase takes effect in January 2026.
  • The adjustment is based on inflation measured by the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, not on legislative action or individual circumstances.
  • Your new payment amount will appear in your January 2026 direct deposit or check; you do not need to do anything to receive it.
  • The COLA affects your primary benefit amount, which may also affect any family members receiving benefits on your record.

How the 2026 increase will affect your payment

When the COLA takes effect in January 2026, your monthly SSDI payment will increase by the announced percentage. If the COLA is 2.5%, for example, a payment of $1,200 becomes $1,230. The new amount will appear automatically in your bank account or arrive by check — you do not need to contact Social Security or take any action.

The increase applies to your primary benefit amount, which is the base payment calculated from your work record. If you receive SSDI and have a spouse or child also receiving benefits on your record, their payments increase by the same percentage.

Your payment may also be subject to the Government Pension Offset or Windfall Elimination Provision if you receive a public pension. The COLA still applies to your SSDI, but these rules may reduce the total increase you see.

What changed between 2024 and 2025 COLA announcements

The 2025 COLA was 3.2%, announced in October 2024. This means SSDI payments increased by 3.2% in January 2025. The 2026 COLA will be different — it depends entirely on inflation between mid-2024 and mid-2025.

Recent COLAs have ranged widely: 8.7% in 2023, 3.2% in 2025, and 2.5% in 2024. There is no way to predict the 2026 figure before October 2025, because it is tied to actual inflation data that has not yet been collected.

When you will see the 2026 increase in your account

If the COLA is announced in October 2025, the increase takes effect on January 1, 2026. You will see the new payment amount in your first January deposit or check. Social Security does not backdate COLA increases — the adjustment begins in the month it takes effect, not retroactively.

If you receive your payment by direct deposit, the new amount will arrive on your regular payment date in January. If you receive a check, it will arrive by mail in early January. You should see the increase reflected in your Social Security account on my Social Security (ssa.gov/myaccount) within a few days of the payment date.

How to verify your new 2026 payment amount

After January 2026, you can check your new payment amount by logging into your my Social Security account at ssa.gov/myaccount. Click "Benefit Summary" to see your current monthly payment. You can also call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to confirm the amount.

Your Social Security Statement, which you can view in your online account, will also reflect the new payment amount once it takes effect. This statement shows your payment history and is useful if you need to verify your income for loans, housing applications, or other purposes.

What to do if your payment does not increase as expected

In rare cases, a payment may not increase even though a COLA was announced. This can happen if you have reached the maximum family benefit — a cap on the total amount Social Security pays to all family members on one person's record. If your family benefit is already at the maximum, your individual payment may not increase, or the increase may be smaller than the announced COLA.

It can also happen if you are subject to the Government Pension Offset, which reduces your SSDI if you receive a public pension. The COLA still applies, but the offset may prevent you from seeing the full increase.

If your payment did not increase in January 2026 and you believe it should have, contact Social Security to ask why. Call 1-800-772-1213 or visit your local Social Security office. Bring your Social Security card and a recent payment statement showing your old and new amounts.

Planning your budget around the 2026 COLA

You cannot know the exact 2026 COLA until October 2025, so budgeting is difficult. However, you can plan conservatively by assuming a smaller increase than recent years. The average COLA over the past decade has been around 2%, though recent years have been higher due to inflation.

If you use your SSDI to cover fixed expenses like rent or utilities, the increase may not keep pace with your actual cost of living. Some expenses — particularly medical care and housing — may rise faster than the COLA. Consider setting aside any increase to cover unexpected costs rather than spending it when ready.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I find out the 2026 COLA before October 2025?

No. Social Security calculates the COLA using inflation data from the third quarter of each year, which is not finalized until October. The announcement always happens in October for the following year's adjustment. You can read news reports about inflation trends, but these are predictions, not the official figure.

Will the 2026 COLA affect my Medicare premiums?

The COLA may indirectly affect your Medicare Part B premium. Social Security uses a "hold harmless" rule that prevents your net benefit from decreasing when premiums rise, but if your benefit increases by more than the premium increase, you will see a net gain. The exact effect depends on your current premium and the 2026 COLA amount.

What if I am receiving SSDI and SSI — do both increase?

SSDI and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are separate programs. SSDI increases with the COLA. SSI has its own annual adjustment, which is also announced in October but may be a different percentage. If you receive both, each will increase according to its own rules.

Does the COLA increase affect my work incentives or trial work period?

No. The trial work period and substantial gainful activity (SGA) limits are set by Social Security policy and change annually, but not because of the COLA. These limits are announced separately, usually in December for the following year. The COLA affects only your monthly payment amount.

If I am working and earning over the SGA limit, will I still get the COLA increase?

If your earnings cause your SSDI to suspend, you will not receive a payment in that month, so there is no COLA to explore. However, when your earnings drop below the SGA limit and your benefits resume, they will resume at the new COLA-adjusted amount, not your old amount.