The Social Security 2026 COLA Forecast Was Just Updated. There's Good News and Bad News for Retirees.
A recent Gallup poll found that Americans are increasingly worried about the economy, inflation, and Social Security. Those three issues ranked among participants' five greatest concerns, and the percentage of people that "worry a great deal" about Social Security benefits reached a 15-year high.Those topics intersect in Social Security's cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs), annual pay increases that help beneficiaries keep up with rising prices across the economy. The Social Security Administration will announce the official 2026 COLA this October, and retired workers are probably hoping for a big raise.On that note, the lastest 2026 COLA forecast comes with good news and bad news. The good news is the forecast trended higher, meaning Social Security benefits could increase more than originally expected next year. The bad news is retirees may still feel as if the pay raise is too small.Continue reading
A recent Gallup poll found that Americans are increasingly worried about the economy, inflation, and Social Security. Those three issues ranked among participants' five greatest concerns, and the percentage of people that "worry a great deal" about Social Security benefits reached a 15-year high.
Those topics intersect in Social Security's cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs), annual pay increases that help beneficiaries keep up with rising prices across the economy. The Social Security Administration will announce the official 2026 COLA this October, and retired workers are probably hoping for a big raise.
On that note, the lastest 2026 COLA forecast comes with good news and bad news. The good news is the forecast trended higher, meaning Social Security benefits could increase more than originally expected next year. The bad news is retirees may still feel as if the pay raise is too small.
