The Social Security Administration (SSA) has confirmed the date of the 2026 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) announcement after it was pushed back due to the ongoing government shutdown.

Why It Matters

The original announcement was due on October 15, but was delayed due to the government shutdown furloughing Bureau of Labor Statistics employees and postponing the release of key inflation data, which the annual update is based on.

More than 70 million Americans rely on Social Security payments as a source of income, and the annual COLA determines how much more they’ll receive in 2026 to keep up with rising living costs.

What To Know

The SSA has confirmed to Newsweek the COLA update will be announced on October 24.

A spokesperson for the SSA told Newsweek: “The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has announced they will issue the September 2025 Consumer Price Index (CPI) on October 24. The Social Security Administration will use this release to generate and announce the 2026 cost-of-living adjustment on October 24 as well.

“Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for 75 million Americans will be adjusted per the 2026 COLA, beginning January 1, 2026, without any delay due to the current government lapse in appropriation.”

The SSA determines cost-of-living adjustments by using the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), which reflects inflation based on the spending patterns of younger urban workers rather than retirees.

The BLS is the federal agency that produces key economic indicators, including the CPI-W.

Since 1975, these adjustments have been issued each year using CPI-W figures collected in the third quarter (July through September) to help benefits keep pace with common expenses like housing, groceries, and healthcare.

How Much Will Benefits Rise By?

The most recent projection from The Senior Citizen’s League (TSCL) puts the COLA at 2.7 percent.

“With the COLA announcement around the corner, seniors across America are holding their breath,” TSCL executive director, Shannon Benton, said. “While a higher COLA would be welcome because their monthly benefits will increase, many will be disappointed. TSCL’s research shows that many seniors believe the COLA does not adequately capture the inflation they experience.”

The annual COLA applies across all programs administered by the SSA, including:

Retirement benefits, including spousal benefits based on a partner’s earningsSurvivor benefitsSupplemental Security Income Social Security Disability InsuranceWhat Happens Next

The COLA will apply to all benefits issued from January 2026 onward.