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Social Security Retirees Just Got Bad News About the 2026 COLA From Washington
Social Security recipients depend on cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) to keep up with rising prices. Absent those annual pay increases, benefits would fall behind inflation and lose purchasing power over time. In other words, retired workers would essentially receive a little less money each year.The Social Security Administration cannot calculate the 2026 COLA for several months. But the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) expects benefits to increase 2.4% next year. That would be the smallest raise for retirees since 2021. But CBO published that forecast before President Trump took office.Since then, retired workers have received bad news from Washington. The Trump administration in early April imposed the largest tariff hike in history. And while the fallout from the dramatic shift in trade policy is still unknown, most economists think inflation will increase. That means Social Security's 2026 COLA could top expectations.Continue reading
Social Security recipients depend on cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) to keep up with rising prices. Absent those annual pay increases, benefits would fall behind inflation and lose purchasing power over time. In other words, retired workers would essentially receive a little less money each year.
The Social Security Administration cannot calculate the 2026 COLA for several months. But the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) expects benefits to increase 2.4% next year. That would be the smallest raise for retirees since 2021. But CBO published that forecast before President Trump took office.
Since then, retired workers have received bad news from Washington. The Trump administration in early April imposed the largest tariff hike in history. And while the fallout from the dramatic shift in trade policy is still unknown, most economists think inflation will increase. That means Social Security's 2026 COLA could top expectations.
