The Social Security Administration will increase benefits by 2.8% in 2026, an annual cost of living adjustment that former administration officials and advocates worried the government shutdown would delay.
Nearly 71 million Social Security recipients will receive their increased benefits on time in January, and while the boost to their paycheck was saved, other important inflation work is falling victim to the shutdown, now in its 24th day.
Friday’s annual COLA announcement came just two weeks later than last year’s; approximately 123 Bureau of Labor Statistics staff came off furlough to calculate September consumer price changes — data the SSA needs for determining the adjustment.