The projected 2.5% COLA for 2026 might not be enough to cover your increasing living costs. With inflation and flawed data collection, retirees could face financial challenges.

If you’re a Social Security beneficiary, you may see a boost in your checks starting in 2026. While the official Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) won’t be released until Oct. 10, the increase for next year is estimated at 2.