Analysts predict a 2.8% increase in Social Security checks for 2026, but the rise may not be enough to offset the growing inflation, especially for seniors living on fixed incomes.
Rising Medicare Premiums Could Offset 2026 COLA Hike
The cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for Social Security is expected to be 2.8% in 2026, according to analysts. However, this increase may not be sufficient to counter the rising inflation, MarketWatch reported.
Analyst Mary Johnson and the Senior Citizens League both anticipate the COLA to be 2.8% or 2.7%. This would result in an average monthly increase of $54.70, bringing the total monthly benefit to $2,009.70. However, this increase might not be enough to cover the rising costs, especially with higher Medicare premiums also expected in 2026.
“That’s apt to look pretty underwhelming to most Social Security recipients,” stated Johnson.
Analysts worry that the COLA increase could be negated by rising Medicare premiums in 2026. Medicare …