According to non-partisan group, The Senior Citizens League, 2026's cost of living adjustment increases will not likely keep up with inflation. Here's what the prediction shows.

Because so many older Americans get most or all of their income from Social Security, a lot of people ages 62 and over depend heavily on annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) to keep up with their living expenses.

COLA beneftis are often not enough for retirees to maintain a comfortable living standard, and the forecast for 2026 likely won't shift that.

Social Security beneficiaries receive an annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to keep the purchasing power of benefits aligned with rising prices across the economy. The official 2026 COLA will not be determined until October 2025 because it depends on inflation data from the third quarter, which is collected between July and September.