Social Security recipients are expected to see an increase in their monthly benefits in 2026 due to the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). However, the Senior Citizens League warns that the increase may not fully offset the impact of continued inflation. The COLA calculation for 2026 will be based on inflation data for July, August, and September of this year.
Social Security recipients can anticipate higher monthly payments next year due to the cost-of-living adjustment ( COLA ), but seniors may still not fully recover from the effects of persistent inflation, according to a leading senior advocacy group. The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) reports that July's inflation data marks the sixth consecutive month of elevated COLA projections for 2026.
\'With the COLA announcement imminent, seniors across America are anxiously awaiting the news,' said Shannon Benton, TSCL's Executive Director, in a statement. 'While a higher COLA is welcomed as it will increase their monthly benefits, many will likely be disappointed… Many seniors believe the COLA does not accurately reflect the inflation they personally experience.' TSCL anticipates a 2.7% COLA for Social Security beneficiaries in 2026, a .2 percentage point increase from the 2025 COLA. TSCL's COLA prediction model has consistently risen this year, 'pointing to risks for resurgent inflation.'\The official Social Security COLA will be revealed in October. The Social Security Administration annually adjusts monthly benefits to align with inflation changes. Higher inflation results in increased monthly benefits. The calculation for the 2026 COLA considers the average inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), for July, August, and September of 2025. TSCL's 2025 Lifestyle Report reveals that an estimated 11.2 million seniors must travel at least 30 minutes for healthcare services, while 18.4 million face similar distances for entertainment. These travel challenges contribute to decreased life satisfaction for seniors, according to advocates. The advocacy group identified a potential contributing factor: lack of public transportation access. 29% of seniors lack access to public transportation, and 26% are uncertain about its availability. Roughly a quarter of seniors have access to free or subsidized public transit.\'American seniors' lack of access to basic amenities in their communities presents a significant challenge,' stated Benton. 'Our research demonstrates a statistically significant link between convenient access to healthcare and entertainment services and seniors who are more satisfied with their lives. Seniors with free or subsidized public transport access also report higher life satisfaction.'\This COLA news arrives as President Donald Trump plans to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Social Security Act by issuing a proclamation emphasizing his administration's reported improvements to the program. The Social Security Act was enacted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935 during the Great Depression. The legislation aimed to create a federal safety net to support Americans facing unemployment, illness, disability, death, and old age. Today, the program provides benefits to nearly 69 million Americans monthly. It is a crucial source of income for individuals over 65 and enjoys widespread popularity across political affiliations. Trump's Social Security proclamation will characterize the Social Security Act as a 'monumental legislative achievement,' but the program faces an impending financial shortfall, threatening its ability to pay full benefits. Since Trump's presidency, the program has faced turbulence, including staff reductions at the agency. Unions and advocacy groups concerned about sensitive information sharing have filed lawsuits. Trump administration officials, including the president, falsely claimed for months that millions of deceased individuals were receiving Social Security benefits. Former top adviser Elon Musk labeled the program a potential 'Ponzi scheme.'\The so-called 'go-broke date' – the point at which Social Security will exhaust its funds to provide full benefits – has been moved up to 2034 from last year's estimate of 2035. After this point, Social Security would only be able to cover 81% of benefits, according to a report released in June. The earlier date is attributed to new legislation impacting Social Security benefits, which has accelerated the projected depletion timeline, the report concluded.\Republicans' new tax legislation enacted in July is expected to accelerate Social Security's insolvency, according to Brendan Duke at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The Social Security Fairness Act, signed into law by former President Joe Biden in January, also had an impact. It repealed the Windfall Elimination and Government Pension Offset provisions, increasing Social Security benefit levels for former public workers. 'They haven't laid out an idea to fix it yet,' Duke told The Associated Press
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