Social Security Checks will increase in 2025
Living costs have increased in 2025, and the amount people receive will change during Social Security Checks.
Fox-10 Phoenix
We are only a few months away from Social Security’s 2026 Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA). If you’re already insisting a check, it could be the most important Social Security news of the year as it tells you what you’ll get from the program in 2026 and how much money you’ll have to cover yourself.
The only real way to know how much you’ll get next year is to wait for the official coke announcement in October. But understanding these three important Cola facts can help you get an idea of what to expect now.
1. How Cola Calculation Works
The Social Security Administration is based on the difference in average 3Q inflation data, as measured by the consumer price index for urban wage workers and administrative workers (CPI-W). That sounds more complicated than that.
To calculate the 2026 COLA, add CPI-W numbers for July, August and September 2025 and split them into 3 to get the average. Next, we will compare the average for the same month in 2024 with that average. So if the average for 2025 is 3% higher, 2026 Cola will be 3%.
There is no data yet to perform the calculation. Therefore, the Social Security Agency will not announce COLA until October. It will be the CPI-W number for September 2025.
2. COLAS is the check percentage
The Social Security Administration describes Colas as a percentage. Add this percentage to your existing checks to determine your profit for 2026. This means that everyone will see an increase in their unique dollar value.
The difference is quite important. Those who request a check of $2,000 a month will only get $50 extra dollars from 2.5% of Coke, while those who request a check of $5,000 a month will receive $125 a month.
3. Colas doesn’t actually help your checks keep up with inflation
The overall idea of COLAS is to help the purchasing power of Social Security Checks remain stable over time. However, research suggests that this has not actually happened. Since 2010, benefits have lost 20% of their purchasing power, according to the Senior Citizens League (TSCL), a nonpartisan senior group. This means that in 2010 you’ll need one dollar to buy something that could have been purchased for $0.80.
This trend also shows no signs of slowing down. TSCL’s latest estimates are that Cola in 2026 is only 2.5% – the same as 2025. However, it could be a little higher if inflation rises over the coming months. But there’s a real chance that may be less than you’d hoped.
There are a few things you can try to overcome this predicament. If you have personal savings, you can use them to complement your social security checks. You may also consider working part-time or signing up for government benefits, such as Supplementary Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and Supplementary Security Income (SSI). This allows you to receive some support at an inherent cost to allow you to use Social Security Checks in other areas.
It’s not too early to start brainstorming how you will tackle your budget in 2026. However, please note that plans may need to be adjusted in October when the Social Security Administration announced its official 2026 COLA.
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