Whether the government stays shut down or reopens, the 2026 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will be announced this month.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics said it will publish the September Consumer Price Index on Friday, Oct. 24, at 8:30 a.m., so the Social Security Administration can calculate and release the COLA information.
The announcement was originally set for Wednesday, Oct. 15, with the September CPI report, however, the shutdown on Oct. 1 pushed the announcement back. This delayed the COLA calculations.
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Here’s what to know for the upcoming announcement and how this will affect you, and any changes to your monthly payment could come in.
What will 2026 COLA be?
The latest estimate, up to the August inflation data, shows a Social Security check rising 2.8%, up from 2.7% the prior month, Johnson said.
The overall consumer price index rose 2.9% in August, and the index for urban wage earners increased 2.8%.
A 2.8% COLA would mean just more than a $52 monthly increase in the average Social Security benefit. The average monthly benefit was $1,864.87 in August, Social Security Administration data shows.
Does this mean other data are forthcoming?
BLS was clear that the September CPI report was an exception, only so COLA wouldn’t be delayed.
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“No other releases will be rescheduled or produced until the resumption of regular government services,” BLS said in a statement. “This release allows the Social Security Administration to meet statutory deadlines necessary to ensure the accurate and timely payment of benefits.”
When the government closed, all but one of the bureau’s 2,055 employees were furloughed.
Late on Oct. 9, “the Office of Management and Budget instructed the BLS to recall workers involved in assembling the September CPI report,” said JP Morgan chief U.S. economist Michael Feroli. “However, no dates have been set for other data releases that normally would have been released,” including other September inflation reports, retail sales and industrial production.
When was the COLA announcement last delayed?
The only other time the annual COLA announcement was delayed was in October 2013, also during a government shutdown. The government closed on Oct. 1, 2013 for 16 days, also over funding for the Affordable Care Act.
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The September CPI report was due on Oct. 16, 2013 but delayed until Oct. 30, when the 1.5% annual COLA increase for 2014 was also announced.
How many people in the U.S. receive Social Security benefits?
In August, more than 74.5 million people received Social Security, according to the SSA. These beneficiaries include retired workers, disabled workers, survivors of deceased workers and those receiving Supplemental Security Income.
How many people in Oklahoma receive Social Security benefits?
In 2024, 92,644 people received Social Security in Oklahoma. Most of the group (86,499 people) identify as blind or disabled with the SSA.
Nationwide, more than 74.5 million people received Social Security, according to the Social Security Administration. These beneficiaries include retired workers, disabled workers, survivors of deceased workers and those receiving Supplemental Security Income.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Social Security COLA for 2026 is coming. What increase Oklahomans could see