Social Security beneficiaries will see higher benefit payments in 2026 thanks to an annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) that bumps their benefits up a smidge. While COLA increases have ranged as high as 8.9% (in 2022, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic), on average they are moderate, just enough to keep pace with inflation.
Here’s what the average retired worker can expect for their spring 2026 checks, according to the Social Security Administration (SSA), how that compares to 2025 and what factors into those estimates.
