Quick Read – Social Security benefits received a 2.8% COLA in 2026. – Inflation is already outpacing that COLA. – The 2026 COLA was also doomed from the start due to a Medicare Part B increase. – Social Security benefits are eligible for a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) every…
ar. Without COLAs, Social Security recipients would get the same benefits throughout retirement
Over time, they would be guaranteed to lose buying power. What COLAs do is adjust Social Security benefits based on inflation. That way, if costs go up a certain amount, Social Security checks also go up to make things fair for retirees.
In 2026, Social Security benefits got a 2.8% COLA. But many Social Security recipients are already struggling this year because that raise is not going very far. Here’s why things keep getting worse for the 2026 Social Security COLA, and what retirees can do about it.