3 numbers to combat the fear of seniors with Social Security Security’s 2026 Livingy-Living-of Livingyl’s Livices (Cola) one week away from being revealed
The announcement of Social Security Security-of-cast-of-Livings is delayed until Oct. 24 due to the federal government shutdown.
Independent estimates mark the fifth consecutive year with cola above averages, relative to an average increase of 2.3% since 2010.
However, the important expenses of the elderly are ready to be crowded or everyone is paid in the following year.
The $23,760 social security bonus is very much looking back entirely>
The big day is almost here! One week from today, on Oct. 24, at 08: 30 AM, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the September Values (SSA) to calculate the cost adjustment of 2026.
Typically, social security retirees, disabled workers, and survivor beneficiaries will know how much their payments increase the following year. The BLS releases inflation data between the 10th and 15th of each month. But because of the federal government shutdown, the reporting of most economic data has been put on hold for good.
Although the government shutdown continues, as of this writing on the evening of Oct.
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While this should be a time to celebrate for seniors who rely on social security to cover at least a portion of their monthly expenses – who doesn’t enjoy seeing their monthly payments increase year after year? – Three numbers create something of an old night mood for elderly benefactors.
From the first retirement benefit check mail in January 1940 to 1974, there was no consensus or justification for social security, which was a major problem.
During the 1940s, profits remained strong; But the price of goods and services retirees bought with their social security money continued to rise. This led to a strong loss of purchasing power and led to the largest cola cut on record – 77% encouraged monthly payments that passed through Congress in 1950.
The adjustment of social security close to the year for all living is the way SSA tries to fight the effects of inflation (prices) to ensure more than 70 million traditional values do not lose purchasing power.
Since 1975, the consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers (CPI-W) has been a measure of social security. It is reported as one item each month by the BLS, which makes year-round comparisons – made throughout the year to determine if the prices of many goods and services are rising (inflation) or falling (pollution).
When prices rise and fall from one year to the next, Social Security beneficiaries get a “raise.”
One quirk is that the Cola Security Index is only calculated from the CPI-W readings from the third quarter (July, August, and September
The current high rate of inflation has created social security colas in the last four years. US price data for opening YCharts.
While the SSA is expected to unveil a laundry list of changes a week from now, including an increase in the income tax cap and higher monthly payments for full-year retirees, it’s all about Social Security.
Based on two independent estimates leading to Oct. 24 reveals, next year’s increase should come more on average, compared to the average cola of 2.3% in the last 16 years.
Nongpertisan Senior Advocacy Group Senior Citizens Senior Citizens (TSCL) has steadily increased its cola reform throughout the year. What started as a call for a 2.1% increase in the year 2026 in mid-January rose to a blecassed 2.7% fake in monthly gains for the next year.
Meanwhile, independent analyst of security and policy for Medicare America Mary Johnson believes that beneficiaries will enjoy a gradual increase of 2.8% in the new year.
For low-income retirees, 2.7% or 2.8% Cola will raise their monthly payments by $54 to $56. As for the average worker with disabilities and survivors, the beneficiaries are $43 to $44% 44
More importantly, Tscl and Johnson’s forecast points to the fifth consecutive year in which beneficiaries will receive a cost of living adjustment of at least 2.5%. The last time this happened was from 1988 to 1997, when Colas fell between 2.6% and 5.4% each year.
However, this history-making moment can be beaten by three stubborn numbers.
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While the adjustment of the above costs – living seems to have been taken in 2026, the elders look down at three unpleasant numbers that will happen, in all probability, in part or in full the payment of the payment they will receive. These numbers are:
3.6%which is the rate of inflation for the 12 months (TTM) of shelter, ending August 2025, based on the consumer price index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U).
4.2%which is the amount of TTM price increases for medical care services, ending in August 2025, with CPI-U.
11.5%which represents the projected increase in Medicare Part B Premiums in 2026 from the latest Medicare Trustees report.
Compared to people of working age, seniors spend a higher percentage of their monthly budget on shelter and medical care costs. Unfortunately, prices are forced to rise in these two categories of costs in a faster cup than the retired times of the colas that have received social security. Unless shelter and medical care costs become more expensive in the coming months, the PayOut for next year will not be enough to cover two of the most important expenses for seniors.
The two-percentage-point increase in the Medicare B Premium portion is a major concern of dual enrollment — those enrolled in traditional Medicare who receive social security benefits. The Part B Premium, which covers non-statutory services, is almost always deducted from the paychecks of social security recipients.
If the Medicare Trustees’ estimates prove correct, the Part B Premium will increase by $21.20 per month next year, with even larger increases for high earners. A Lifetime Low Failer may see their entire social security cost adjustment through this 2 percent Medicare Part b Premium.
These three numbers add up to one unpleasant reality for seniors: another year in which their social security money may lose purchasing power.
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3 numbers that seniors should fear with Social Security’s Liker-of-Living expenses adjustment
