Overview

• Mary Johnson and the Senior Citizens League project a 2.7% cost-of-living adjustment in 2026 based on July data showing a 2.7% rise in headline CPI and a 2.5% increase in CPI-W.
• The official COLA will be determined by averaging CPI-W readings for July through September and announced by the Social Security Administration in October.
• Housing, medical care, transportation and grocery costs have been rising faster than CPI-W and account for more than 85% of spending for consumers age 62 and older.
• Medicare Part B premiums are expected to increase by at least $21.50 in 2026 and will be deducted directly from Social Security checks, trimming net benefit gains.
• Recent tax legislation has moved the projected trust-fund insolvency date forward by about three months to 2032, adding long-term pressure on program finances.