The announcement of the Social Security Administration’s 2026 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) has been officially delayed due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, which began on October 1, 2025. Normally, the COLA announcement happens in mid-October, right after the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) releases its September CPI-W data – the key input for calculating the annual increase.
The Social Security COLA 2026 Announcement Date is specifically based on average CPI-W values from July, August, and September 2025. The Social Security Administration cannot finalize or announce the COLA until this data is available. The shutdown has also reduced SSA staffing and limited public communications, causing further delays in outreach and support for beneficiaries.
“The BLS has announced they will issue the September 2025 CPI on October 24 and SSA will use this release to generate and announce the 2026 cost-of-living adjustment on October 24 as well.”- SSA spokesperson
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Social Security COLA 2026 Announcement Date
The official announcement date for the 2026 Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) is October 24, 2025. This announcement was originally scheduled for October 15, 2025, but was delayed due to the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, which paused the release of the September inflation data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
The BLS confirmed that it will now release CPI-W report on October 24 at 8:30 a.m. ET, enabling the Social Security Administration (SSA) to calculate and announce the new COLA rate on the same day. As of mid-October 2025, the projected 2026 COLA is around 2.7% to 2.8%, reflecting moderate inflation trends. The COLA increase will take effect in January 2026, with the first payments reflecting the raise issued in February 2026.
“In the notice, the agency stated that no further releases would be planned or generated until regular government service resumed. “This announcement enables SSA to fulfill legal obligations that guarantee accurate and timely payment of benefits.”
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How is COLA calculated each year?
- The annual Social Security COLA is calculated by the percentage increase in CPI-W from the third quarter (July–September) of the current year compared to the same period of the previous year. The Social Security Administration (SSA) cannot calculate or announce the COLA until the September inflation report is released, since all three month’s data are required to compute the average accurately.
- This is why a government shutdown that delays Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reporting directly postpones the new COLA announcement. There is ongoing debate about whether the CPI-W most accurately reflects the spending patterns of older Americans. Critics note that CPI-W primarily measures costs experienced by working-age wage earners, underweighting expenses like health care, housing, and prescription drugs, which tend to form a larger proportion of senior’s budgets.
- Many advocates and policy experts support switching to the experimental CPI-E, which assigns heavier weights to categories such as medical care, food, and shelter, costs that rise faster for seniors. If the COLA were calculated using CPI-E, benefits would typically rise faster than under the current CPI-W formula. Congress would need to enact legislation to adopt CPI-E or any alternative inflation measure for Social Security COLA. However, as of now, all official COLA calculations remain based on the third-quarter CPI-W data.
How much will the 2026 cost-of-living increase be?
- The Senior Citizens League (TSCL), a respected advocacy group for seniors, predicts the 2026 Social Security COLA to be 2.7%. This prediction is based on a sophisticated model using the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners (CPI-W), as well as factors like the national unemployment rate and Federal Reserve interest rates.
- If this 2.7% COLA holds, it would mean an average monthly increase of about $50 to $54 for most Social Security beneficiaries, based on the current average monthly benefit amounts. The final announcement is expected on October 24, 2025, when the Bureau of Labor Statistics releases the delayed September CPI report, which is crucial for finalizing the COLA calculation.
- TSCL also notes that while the CPI-W is used for the official calculation, it may underestimate inflation for seniors, who spend more on healthcare and housing. They advocate for alternative measures that better reflect senior spending, but for now, the COLA remains calculated based on CPI-W averages from July to September.
TSCL Executive Director Shannon Benton said in a statement released in September that “Seniors throughout America are holding their breath as we wait for the official COLA announcement in October.” “The COLA announcement has a direct impact on the quality of life of seniors, as our data indicates that 39% of them rely completely on their benefits for their income.”
COLA 2026 Important Dates
Despite the announcement delay, payments with the COLA increase will proceed on schedule without interruption or delay. Beneficiaries do not need to take action to receive the increase; it will be automatically applied to their Social Security and Supplemental Security Income payments
| Date | Event | Details |
|---|---|---|
| October 24, 2025 | Official COLA Announcement | SSA announces 2026 COLA percentage after BLS releases September CPI-W data, delayed by government shutdown |
| January 1, 2026 | COLA Effective Date | Social Security benefits adjusted to reflect the new COLA starting this date |
| February 2026 | First COLA-Adjusted Payment Received | Beneficiaries receive the first payment with the increased COLA amount |
There will not be delay in payments due to shutdown
“Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits for 75 million Americans will be adjusted per the 2026 COLA, beginning January 1, 2026, without any delay due to the current government lapse in appropriation.”- SSA spokesperson
FAQ’s
When will the 2026 COLA be announced?
The official 2026 COLA announcement will be made on October 24, 2025.
Why announcement is delayed?
Announcement is delayed due to the federal government shutdown affecting inflation data release.
How much will the 2026 COLA be?
Predicted to be around 2.7%.
Will the government shutdown delay Social Security payments?
No, Social Security benefit payments, including the COLA increase, will proceed on schedule starting January 2026.
When will beneficiaries receive the increased payments?
The COLA-adjusted benefits take effect January 1, 2026, and beneficiaries will receive their first increased payment in February 2026.