Good news may be coming to Social Security beneficiaries, thanks to a group of Democratic senators.<\/p>\n
Social Security recipients may see their benefits increase by $200 under a proposal coined the Social Security Emergency Inflation Relief Act<\/a>.<\/p>\n If approved, Social Security benefits would see the $200 monthly payments increase beginning in January 2026 and end in July 2026.<\/p>\n And the increase would apply to more than Supplemental Security Income recipients.<\/p>\n In fact, those eligible would include SSI recipients, railroad retirees, disabled veterans and those receiving veterans\u2019 pensions.<\/p>\n According to Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., the increase is designed to offset higher prices caused by inflation.<\/p>\n \u201cThe cost of everything from coffee to beef to health care is up, in large part due to Trump\u2019s chaotic tariffs,\u201d Warren said in a statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThis new legislation to expand Social Security is an emergency lifeline for seniors struggling to afford Trump\u2019s tariffs and rising inflation.\u201d<\/p>\n Backing the bill are Democratic senators: Mark Kelly of Arizona, Alex Padilla of California, Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, Angela Alsobrooks and Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Tina Smith of Minnesota, Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer of New York, Ron Wyden of Oregon and Peter Welch of Vermont.<\/p>\n The increase would be in addition to the 2.8% Cost of Living increase beginning in January 2026.<\/p>\n The 2.8% increase pans out to be less than $60 a month \u2014 a figure advocates warn does not even begin to keep up with true inflation.<\/p>\n COLA 2026<\/p>\n Every year the Social Security Administration<\/a> calculates how inflation affects the cost of living and then adjusts benefits for nearly 71 million Americans<\/a> depending on those benefits to survive.<\/p>\n \u201cOn average, Social Security retirement benefits will increase by about $56 per month starting in January,\u201d the agency announced<\/a> of the 2026 figure.<\/p>\n COLA increases are determined by the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)<\/a> from July to September of the calendar year.<\/p>\n Non-partisan group The Senior Citizens League<\/a> predicted the 2026 COLA adjustment months before the government officially announced the increase, explaining that while minor COLA rates mean cooling inflation, it doesn\u2019t mean prices will fall but that they will just rise more slowly.<\/p>\n \u201cThis leaves many seniors facing a budget shortfall,\u201c the league said.<\/p>\n Shannon Benton, TSCL executive director, said inflation slowing down does not translate to seniors catching up.<\/p>\n Data from TSCL\u2019s 2024 Senior Survey shows 62% of older Americans worry their retirement income won\u2019t even cover essentials such as groceries and medical bills.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s essential that Congress acts quickly to fix years of sub-par COLAs and help give seniors the quality of life they deserve,\u201d Benton said.<\/p>\n Read the original article on MassLive<\/a>. Add MassLive<\/a> as a Preferred Source by clicking here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Good news may be coming to Social Security beneficiaries, thanks to a group of Democratic senators. 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