{
  "title": "Social Security COLA 2026: 2.8% Increase and What It Added to Your Check",
  "canonical": "https://quantcalc.app/social-security-cola-2026/",
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "date_modified": "2026-11-04",
  "generator": "scripts/gen_health_reference_pages.mjs",
  "sources": [
    {
      "url": "https://www.ssa.gov/news/en/cola/factsheets/2026.html",
      "label": "SSA, 2026 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Fact Sheet"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/colaseries.html",
      "label": "SSA Office of the Chief Actuary, Cost-of-Living Adjustments (automatic determinations)"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-parts-b-premiums-deductibles",
      "label": "CMS, 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles (released 14 November 2025)"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.ssa.gov/news/en/cola/factsheets/2027.html",
      "label": "SSA 2027 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Fact Sheet"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/1395r",
      "label": "42 U.S.C. §1395r(f)"
    }
  ],
  "data": {
    "cola_percent": 2.8,
    "average_benefits": [
      [
        "All retired workers",
        2015,
        2071
      ],
      [
        "Aged couple, both receiving benefits",
        3120,
        3208
      ],
      [
        "Widowed mother and two children",
        3792,
        3898
      ],
      [
        "Aged widow(er) alone",
        1867,
        1919
      ],
      [
        "Disabled worker, spouse and one or more children",
        2857,
        2937
      ],
      [
        "All disabled workers",
        1586,
        1630
      ]
    ],
    "changes": [
      [
        "Cost-of-living adjustment",
        "2.5%",
        "2.8%"
      ],
      [
        "Maximum taxable earnings (Social Security)",
        "$176,100",
        "$184,500"
      ],
      [
        "Quarter of coverage",
        "$1,810",
        "$1,890"
      ],
      [
        "Earnings test, under full retirement age",
        "$23,400/yr ($1,950/mo)",
        "$24,480/yr ($2,040/mo)"
      ],
      [
        "Earnings test, year you reach full retirement age",
        "$62,160/yr ($5,180/mo)",
        "$65,160/yr ($5,430/mo)"
      ],
      [
        "Substantial gainful activity, non-blind",
        "$1,620/mo",
        "$1,690/mo"
      ],
      [
        "Substantial gainful activity, blind",
        "$2,700/mo",
        "$2,830/mo"
      ],
      [
        "Maximum benefit, worker retiring at full retirement age",
        "$4,018/mo",
        "$4,152/mo"
      ],
      [
        "SSI federal payment, individual",
        "$967/mo",
        "$994/mo"
      ],
      [
        "SSI federal payment, couple",
        "$1,450/mo",
        "$1,491/mo"
      ]
    ],
    "part_b": {
      "2025": 185,
      "2026": 202.9
    },
    "cola_history_by_payable_year": [
      [
        2000,
        2.5
      ],
      [
        2001,
        3.5
      ],
      [
        2002,
        2.6
      ],
      [
        2003,
        1.4
      ],
      [
        2004,
        2.1
      ],
      [
        2005,
        2.7
      ],
      [
        2006,
        4.1
      ],
      [
        2007,
        3.3
      ],
      [
        2008,
        2.3
      ],
      [
        2009,
        5.8
      ],
      [
        2010,
        0
      ],
      [
        2011,
        0
      ],
      [
        2012,
        3.6
      ],
      [
        2013,
        1.7
      ],
      [
        2014,
        1.5
      ],
      [
        2015,
        1.7
      ],
      [
        2016,
        0
      ],
      [
        2017,
        0.3
      ],
      [
        2018,
        2
      ],
      [
        2019,
        2.8
      ],
      [
        2020,
        1.6
      ],
      [
        2021,
        1.3
      ],
      [
        2022,
        5.9
      ],
      [
        2023,
        8.7
      ],
      [
        2024,
        3.2
      ],
      [
        2025,
        2.5
      ],
      [
        2026,
        2.8
      ],
      [
        2027,
        3.6
      ]
    ]
  }
}