Although retired-worker benefits are set to make history in 2026, the latest COLA forecast is anything but reassuring.

In October the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced that Social Security beneficiaries, as well as those who receive Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), would see their benefits increase by 2.5 percent in 2025, thanks to the annual Cost-of-living Adjustment, or COLA as it is often called.

The latest cost-of-living projection for 2026 shows that seniors could see less of an increase than last year, according to the nonpartisan Senior Citizens League

You're not alone if you were disappointed by Social Security's 2025 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). The 2.5% benefit increase added just $49 to the average monthly check while many retirees saw their expenses rise by more than this over the last year.

According to non-partisan group, The Senior Citizens League, 2026's cost of living adjustment increases will not likely keep up with inflation. Here's what the prediction shows.

As retirees grapple with rising expenses, the 2026 Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) offers a glimmer of hope. While the 2025 increase was modest, projections for 2026 suggest a potentially larger adjustment.

Because so many older Americans get most or all of their income from Social Security, a lot of people ages 62 and over depend heavily on annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) to keep up with their living expenses.

The nonpartisan Senior Citizens League predicts a 2.3% Cost Of Living Adjustment in 2026, citing a reduction in inflation over the next year. Mary Johnson, an independent Social Security and Medicare expert,

Social Security beneficiaries receive an annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to keep the purchasing power of benefits aligned with rising prices across the economy. The official 2026 COLA will not be determined until October 2025 because it depends on inflation data from the third quarter, which is collected between July and September.

The latest cost-of-living projection shows that seniors could see a decrease in Social Security benefits. The 2026 COLA is estimated to be around 2.3%, making the prediction 0.2% lower than last year’s COLA of 2.5%, according to the Senior Citizens League.