The Social Security Administration (SSA) officially announced on October 24, 2025, that benefits will increase by 2.8% in 2026. This cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) affects over 75 million Americans receiving Social Security retirement, survivors, or disability benefits, as well as Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
- The increase starts in January 2026 for most Social Security beneficiaries.
- SSI recipients will see the higher payments beginning December 31, 2025.
Key New Payment Amounts (Estimates Based on Averages)
Your exact benefit depends on your individual earnings history, but here are the SSA’s reported averages and increases:
- Retired workers: Average monthly benefit rises by about $56, from approximately $2,015 to $2,071.
- Survivors: Average increase of about $52 per month.
- Disabled workers: Average increase of about $44 per month.
- SSI federal maximums (after COLA): Up to $994 for individuals and $1,491 for couples (both eligible).
To find your personalized 2026 amount, log into your my Social Security account (available in early December 2025) or check your mailed COLA notice in December.
Other 2026 updates include:
- Maximum taxable earnings for payroll taxes: $184,500.
- Earnings limit (if working before full retirement age): $24,480 (under full retirement age all year); $65,160 (in the year reaching full retirement age).
This 2.8% COLA is based on inflation measured by the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from Q3 2024 to Q3 2025.
SSA Abandons Proposed Disability Rule Change After Public Outcry
In late 2025, the SSA shelved a controversial proposed rule that would have reduced or eliminated age as a factor in determining eligibility for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and SSI disability benefits. The change, which was nearing final approval, would have made it harder for older applicants (especially those over 50) to qualify, even if they had severe impairments.
- Advocates, lawmakers, and disability groups raised strong concerns, warning it could lead to hundreds of thousands of benefit denials over time.
- Following weeks of backlash—including reports reaching high-level officials—the SSA confirmed in November 2025 that the rule would not move forward.
- This preserves current “medical-vocational grid” guidelines, which give extra consideration to age, education, and skills when assessing ability to work.
The decision was welcomed by disability advocates as a significant victory, maintaining protections for older and disabled Americans who rely on these programs. The SSA noted it would refocus on other improvements, like updating outdated job data and reducing claim backlogs.
For the latest official details, visit ssa.gov or create a my Social Security account.