Social Security Pay Raise Coming? New 2026 COLA Projection Revealed by The Senior Citizens League (TSCL)
- Author: Russell Sawayn
- Posted: 2025-08-15
Social Security beneficiaries may see a 2.7% Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) in 2026, according to the latest projection from The Senior Citizens League (TSCL).
That’s slightly higher than July’s 2.6% forecast, thanks to new inflation data showing a 0.2% rise in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) last month.
The official COLA will be announced in October 2025, after the Social Security Administration (SSA) averages inflation rates for July, August, and September using the CPI-W (Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers).
How Much More Could You Get?
Using the July 2025 average Social Security benefit of $1,863.12:
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Monthly increase: About $50.30
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New average benefit (Jan 2026): $1,913.42
This is a slight improvement over the 2.5% COLA in 2025, but still much lower than the larger increases seen during the post-COVID inflation surge.
You might be missing out on benefits! Check what’s available to you here.
Why Some Seniors Are Worried
Even with an increase, many retirees say the COLA doesn’t keep up with real living costs. Experts argue the CPI-W doesn’t fully reflect the biggest expenses for older Americans, such as housing, medical care, transportation, and groceries.
For those 62 and older, these categories make up over 85% of spending, and many of these prices remain high despite slower overall inflation.
What’s Next?
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Important dates: The August and September inflation reports will determine the final COLA figure.
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Final announcement: Mid-October 2025
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Effective date: January 2026
For now, the 2.7% projection gives seniors a rough idea of what to expect and a chance to start planning their 2026 budgets.
