Social Security's 2026 COLA Could Be the Worst in Years, but Millions of Retirees Will Get a Big Financial Boost Anyway

The 2026 annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) could come in light again based on recent data. Each year, millions of retirees wait anxiously for the Social Security Administration (SSA) to announce the new annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). The COLA determines how much Social Security benefits will increase the following year and helps retirees, many of whom rely on Social Security for all or a significant part of their income, budget for the following year.