SOCIAL SECURITY COLA INCREASE HIGHER THAN EXPECTED – 2026 Update & Medicare Premium Impact

SOCIAL SECURITY COLA INCREASE HIGHER THAN EXPECTED – 2026 Update & Medicare Premium Impact The 2026 Social Security COLA is shaping up to be higher than many experts predicted earlier this year. Current estimates from the Senior Citizens League put the upcoming cost-of-living adjustment at around 2.6%, compared to the 2% forecast made back in January. This means millions of retirees, SSI recipients, and SSDI beneficiaries could see a slightly bigger boost to their monthly checks starting in January 2026. But here’s the reality check: a sharp Medicare Part B premium increase—projected to rise from $185.00 in 2025 to $206.50 in 2026—will take a serious bite out of that COLA. That’s an $21.50 monthly jump, or about 11.6%, far outpacing the benefit increase for many seniors. For example, an average retired worker receiving $2,500 per month would see about $52 more from the COLA, but after the Medicare hike, the real increase would be closer to $30. For those with smaller benefits, the net gain could be in the single digits. In this video, we’ll break down: The latest CPI-W data and how it drives the COLA calculation. Why Medicare costs often rise faster than general inflation. How the 2026 COLA compares to previous years. What advocacy groups are pushing for, including CPI-E-based adjustments and caps on premium hikes. How to estimate your actual 2026 Social Security payment after deductions. We’ll also look ahead at what August, September, and October’s inflation reports could mean for the final COLA announcement in mid-October—and how global events, energy prices, and food costs might still push the numbers higher or lower. If you rely on Social Security, you need to know the real dollar amount you’ll see in your bank account—not just the headline percentage. Watch until the end so you can plan ahead and avoid surprises in 2026. Social Security 2025, Social Security COLA 2026, COLA increase, Social Security benefits, Medicare Part B premium, retirement income, SSI, SSDI, CPI-W, cost of living adjustment, Senior Citizens League, Social Security news, Medicare premium hike, Social Security update, COLA news 2025, Social Security raise, retirement planning, Social Security payment, SSA update, Social Security changes 2026