3 Ways to Stretch the 2026 Social Security COLA For Your Budget

Senior couple sitting at the kitchen table with croissant and cups of tea, looking at digital tablet and recalculating their expenses.

Counting on your annual inflation "raise" in Social Security benefits to help cover your rising expenses in 2026? You may find yourself frustrated as the new year unfolds.

Social Security's annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will be 2.8% in 2026, just a smidge higher than 2025's 2.5% increase, which was the lowest boost in benefits since 2021. The average monthly payment will rise by about $56, to an estimated $2,071, while the maximum that a recipient can take home at full retirement age is expected to hit $4,152 a month, up from $4,018 in 2025.