Social Security COLA 2026: 2.7% Increase, Medicare Premiums Jump to $206.50
Starting January 2026, Social Security beneficiaries will see a Cost-Of-Living Adjustment (COLA) of 2.7%, along with an 11.6% increase in Medicare Part B premiums to $206.50 per month. This news comes as the Senior Citizens League forecasts higher inflation affecting seniors.
The 2026 COLA, effective from January, is higher than earlier estimates, such as the 2.2% forecast in February 2025. However, after accounting for the Medicare Part B premium hike, the net increase in monthly Social Security payments for the typical retiree will be $32.50, down from the full $54 from the 2.7% COLA.
Senior-specific inflation, as measured by the CPI-E, is expected to be around 3.1% in 2025, outpacing the 2.7% Social Security COLA. This indicates that living costs for seniors are rising faster than the COLA increase.
The 2026 Social Security COLA, while higher than earlier estimates, will result in a net increase of $32.50 per month after accounting for Medicare Part B premiums. Seniors can expect a higher cost of living in 2026, with senior-specific inflation outpacing the COLA.
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