Peopleimages | Istock | Getty Images
The government shutdown will delay a key announcement that affects millions of Social Security beneficiaries — just how much their benefit checks will increase in 2026.
The Social Security cost-of-living adjustment for next year will be revealed once September consumer price index data, which was slated for release on Oct. 15, is available. Due to the federal government shutdown, the CPI release has been pushed to Oct. 24.
“The Social Security Administration (SSA) will use this release to generate and announce the 2026 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) on October 24 as well,” a Social Security spokesperson told CNBC.com via email.
The 2026 COLA for approximately 75 million Social Security and Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, beneficiaries will go into effect for January payments “without any delay due to the current government lapse in appropriation,” the spokesperson said.
Experts estimate the benefit increase may fall in the range of 2.7% to 2.8%, based on the most recent government inflation data. Such an increase would push the average retirement benefit up by about $54 per month.
This is a developing story. Please refresh for updates.
