Experts from “The Senior Citizens League” are the ones who have the most accurate forecasts on the cost-of-living adjustment that will be implemented in 2026. Every year, there is an increase in the cost of living, and by the middle of October, the new figures are revealed to the public. Despite the fact that it is discovered in October, Social Security and Social Security Disability Insurance beneficiaries will not be able to collect it until January 2026.
On the 31st of December in 2025, only individuals who are receiving Supplemental Security Income will be able to collect their SSI payment with the 2026 COLA. The fact that New Year’s Day is a federal holiday is another reason why they should plan their payment for January 1 in advance from the beginning of the year. On the day when the New Year arrives, it is important to keep in mind that all Social Security offices, as well as banks and other financial organizations, are closed.
Latest 2026 COLA prediction
For the most recent COLAs in the United States, the Senior Citizens League has provided estimates that are extremely accurate or even pinpoint correct. As of right now, the most recent forecast for 2026 indicates that the cost of living adjustment for that year could be somewhere around 2.5%.
It is important to keep in mind that there are just a few months left before we can determine whether or not it will be true. Social Security recipients, on the other hand, receive a monthly report from The Senior Citizens League through their organization.
As a result, it is essential to examine them when they are first introduced in July for the month of June, August for the month of July, and September for the month of August. It is the quarter that the Social Security Administration uses to calculate the exact amount for the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for the year 2026, thus the statistics that are provided for the months of July, August, and September will be the ones that are considered to be the most significant.
TSCL forecasts that the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for Social Security in 2026 will be around 2.5%. Consequently, it would be identical to the official cost-of-living adjustment that would be implemented for Social Security in the year 2025.
If nothing is done to remedy the situation, and recipients of Social Security receive a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) of only 2.5% in 2026, it may be disheartening for many recipients who perceive that they have lost purchasing power over the course of their lifetime. It has been supported by a few reports from the TSCL.
How much would the COLA increase your monthly payment?
It is possible that the cost-of-living adjustment projection could have been lower, despite the fact that it is quite low. In addition, the amount of additional money that you will get from Social Security will increase in proportion to the amount of your payment.
For instance, seniors who receive Social Security benefits and whose monthly benefit payment is $5,000 will receive a retirement benefit payment of $5,125. As a result, certain retirees are eligible to receive an additional $125 every month.
Each month, do you receive a total of $4,000? This would result in an additional one hundred dollars per month, which would add up to a total of one thousand two hundred dollars every year. Your Social Security payout would increase to $3,075 if it was currently $3,000 per month.
A cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increase of 2.5% in 2026 may enable a payment of $1,000 grow to $1,025. This would be twice as much as the prior amount, which was $2,050, if you were to receive $2,000 instead. Some retirees may receive approximately $500 since they were unable to work for a significant amount of time. Instead of receiving $512.50, such retirees might receive $512.50 following the 2026 COLA.
