2026 Social Security Benefits Delayed: When You’ll Know Your Payment Amount

Thank you for joining us for this important Social Security update.
Today we are discussing the delay in announcing the 2026 cost of living adjustment and what that means for your monthly benefits.
With the government shutdown holding up key inflation data, millions of retirees are left waiting to find out how much their payments will increase next year.
Stay with us as we explain when to expect answers and how these changes could impact your budget.
Due to the federal government shutdown, the Social Security Administration has not yet released the official cost of living adjustment for 2026, leaving over 70 million Americans, including retirees, disability recipients, and SSI beneficiaries, waiting for news about their monthly payments.
The delay is caused by missing inflation data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which typically releases the final numbers in mid-occtober, allowing Social Security to calculate the annual adjustment using consumer price index figures from July, August, and September.
Current expert projections estimate the 2026 COLA will fall between 2.7 and 2.8%, meaning the average retirement benefit could increase by about $54 per month.
While disability beneficiaries and those receiving supplemental security income can expect similar percentage increases, though the exact dollar amount will vary based on each program’s base payment.
However, the actual increase in your monthly check may be smaller once the new Medicare PartB premium is deducted, with that premium projected to rise by over $21 to $26.50 50 cents per month for most people and higher income beneficiaries facing even larger deductions due to income related adjustments.
Importantly, the hold harmless provision ensures that your Social Security payment will not decrease even if Medicare premiums rise faster than the COA.
But many seniors still feel squeezed as everyday costs for health care, housing, and food continue to outpace official inflation measures.
Once the government reopens and the missing inflation data is released, the Social Security Administration will announce the exact COA and beneficiaries will receive updated payment amounts starting January 2026.
So, it is important to stay informed and review your benefit statement when the official numbers are published.
With the projected 2026 Social Security COLA ranging between 2.7 and 2.8%, 8%.
Most retirees can expect an average increase of about $54 per month starting in January.
Be sure to review your updated benefit statement when it arrives and monitor any changes to your Medicare PartB premium as these will affect your actual monthly deposit.
For more information, visit socialsecurityalerts.news.
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