Social Security's 2026 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Estimate Is Climbing -- but There's an Unpleasant Catch
Not all is what it appears to be when it comes to the value of a Social Security dollar.
For an overwhelming majority of retired workers, Social Security is more than just a monthly check. It represents a financial lifeline that they'd struggle to make do without.
Since 2002, national pollster Gallup has surveyed retirees annually to determine how reliant they are on the Social Security income they receive. During this 23-year period, 80% to 90% of retirees have responded that Social Security represents a "major" or "minor" source of income. Long story short, it's a payout that provides a financial foundation for retired workers.
Taking into account how critical Social Security checks are for our nation's aging workforce, no announcement has more gravity to the program's 52 million retired workers than the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) reveal. While early estimates point to the 2026 COLA climbing, there's an unpleasant catch that comes with this forecast.
