The 2026 SSDI COLA has not yet been announced

The Social Security Administration announces the annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) in October of each year, and the increase takes effect the following January. As of now, the 2026 COLA figure has not been released. The announcement will happen in October 2025, and the new payment amount will begin in January 2026.

The COLA is calculated based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from July, August, and September of the announcement year. If inflation during those three months is higher than the same period the previous year, Social Security recipients receive a percentage increase. If there is no inflation or prices have fallen, there is no COLA that year — though this has happened only three times since 1975.

Key Takeaways

  • The 2026 COLA will be announced in October 2025 and will take effect with your January 2026 payment.
  • The increase is based on inflation data from July through September 2025 and is calculated by Social Security, not by Congress or any other body.
  • Your new payment amount will appear on your Social Security statement and in your online account (my Social Security) before January arrives.
  • The COLA applies to all SSDI beneficiaries at the same percentage — there is no individual variation based on your age, location, or benefit amount.
  • You do not need to take any action to receive the COLA; it is applied automatically to your account.

How the COLA percentage is determined

Social Security uses a specific formula tied to real inflation data. The agency compares the average CPI-W for July, August, and September of 2025 to the same three months in 2024. The percentage difference between those two periods becomes the COLA percentage for 2026.

This means the COLA is not a prediction or an estimate — it is based on actual prices that have already occurred. The formula is set by law and does not change from year to year. Social Security has no discretion to raise or lower the percentage; the math determines the result.

If inflation was high during the summer and fall of 2025, the COLA will be higher. If inflation was low or prices fell, the COLA will be lower or zero. The announcement in October 2025 will show you the exact percentage that applies to your 2026 benefits.

When you will see the increase in your payments

Your January 2026 payment will include the COLA increase. If you receive direct deposit, the new amount will land in your bank account on the usual payment date in January. If you receive a check, the check amount will reflect the increase.

Before January arrives, you will receive written notice from Social Security showing your new benefit amount. You can also log into your my Social Security account online and view the updated figure. The notice will arrive in December 2025 or early January 2026.

If you are on a different payment schedule — for example, if you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in addition to SSDI — the timing may differ slightly. SSI payments increase on the first of the month, while SSDI payments follow a schedule based on your birth date. Check your payment schedule in your my Social Security account if you are unsure when your payment arrives.

What the COLA does and does not cover

The COLA increases your monthly benefit amount. If you receive $1,500 per month and the COLA is 3 percent, your new amount will be $1,545 per month starting in January 2026. The increase is applied to your primary benefit amount — the base figure Social Security uses to calculate your payment.

The COLA does not change the rules for work, reporting, or continuing to receive benefits. It does not affect your Medicare or Medicaid coverage. It does not change the amount you can earn before your benefits are reduced (if you are under full retirement age and still working). It is purely a payment increase to account for inflation.

If you receive benefits as a family — for example, if your child or spouse also receives benefits based on your SSDI record — each person's payment increases by the same percentage. A spouse receiving 50 percent of your benefit will see their payment rise by the same COLA percentage as yours.

How past COLAs compare

Recent COLA increases have varied widely. In 2024, the COLA was 3.2 percent. In 2023, it was 8.7 percent — the highest increase in four decades, driven by high inflation in 2022. In 2022, the COLA was 5.9 percent. In 2021, it was 1.3 percent. In 2020, it was 1.3 percent.

These numbers show that the COLA is not predictable year to year. A high COLA one year does not mean the next year will be high. The increase depends entirely on what inflation was during the specific three-month window used in the calculation.

Where to find the official announcement

The Social Security Administration will announce the 2026 COLA on its official website, ssa.gov, in October 2025. The announcement will include the percentage increase and an explanation of how it was calculated. You can also call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to ask about the 2026 COLA once it has been announced.

Be cautious of unofficial sources claiming to predict the COLA before October. No one outside Social Security can know the exact figure until the CPI-W data for July through September 2025 is finalized and the calculation is complete. Some websites publish estimates based on inflation trends, but these are guesses, not official information.

What to do if you think your payment is wrong

After you receive your January 2026 payment, check the amount against the notice Social Security sent you. If the payment does not match the notice, contact Social Security. You can call 1-800-772-1213, visit your local Social Security office, or log into my Social Security and send a message through the find messaging system.

Keep the notice Social Security sends you showing your new benefit amount. If there is a discrepancy, you will need to reference that notice when you contact them. Social Security can correct payment errors, but you need to report them within a reasonable time frame.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I find out what the 2026 COLA will be before October 2025?

No. The COLA is calculated from actual inflation data that is not finalized until late September 2025. Some websites publish estimates based on inflation trends, but these are not official and often differ from the actual announcement. The only official source is Social Security's announcement in October 2025.

Does the COLA increase explore to everyone on SSDI?

Yes. Every SSDI beneficiary receives the same COLA percentage increase. There is no variation based on age, location, how long you have been receiving benefits, or the amount you receive. The percentage is uniform across all beneficiaries.

Will the COLA increase affect my Medicare premiums?

Medicare Part B and Part D premiums may change in 2026, but the change is separate from the COLA increase. Some beneficiaries are protected by a "hold harmless" rule that prevents their Medicare premium from rising more than their COLA increase, but this does not explore to all beneficiaries. Check your Medicare notice in late 2025 for details about your 2026 premiums.

What if I am also receiving SSI along with SSDI?

Both programs receive a COLA increase in January 2026, and the percentage is the same for both. However, SSI has a federal benefit rate that may affect how the increase is applied to your total payment. Contact Social Security if you receive both programs and have questions about your specific payment.

Do I need to report the COLA increase to anyone?

No. The COLA is applied automatically, and you do not need to report it to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, or any other program. Your payment will straightforward increase in January 2026 without any action on your part.