The cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for Social Security payments in 2026 could increase by 2.6 percent, according to a new estimate based on federal inflation data released on Tuesday for the month of June.
In a news release, The Senior Citizens League increased its COLA estimate by 0.1 percent over last month’s prediction, noting that its “model’s prediction has increased for five consecutive months amid mounting inflationary pressures.” Last month, the group had forecast a 2.5 percent COLA for Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments.
“With only three months remaining until the next COLA announcement, TSCL’s model predicts that the COLA will be only 0.1 percentage points higher than the 2025 COLA of 2.5 percent,” the group said in a statement….