Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment Could Rise More in 2026, Group Forecasts

An influential group says that the cost-of-living adjustment will likely increase 0.1 percent over last month’s prediction.

Blank U.S. Treasury checks are run through a printer at the U.S. Treasury printing facility in Philadelphia, Pa., on July 18, 2011. William Thomas Cain/Getty Images

The cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for Social Security payments in 2026 could increase by 2.6 percent, according to a new estimate based on federal inflation data released on Tuesday for the month of June.

In a news release, The Senior Citizens League increased its COLA estimate by 0.1 percent over last month’s prediction, noting that its “model’s prediction has increased for five consecutive months amid mounting inflationary pressures.” Last month, the group had forecast a 2.5 percent COLA for Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments.