For more than 70 million Americans, the 2.8% COLA arriving in January 2026 will look promising on paper. An average retired worker will see roughly $56 more each month, bringing the typical benefit to about $2,071. For someone on a fixed income, that’s not nothing. It can mean a few extra bags of groceries, a tank of gas, or help with a co‑pay they used to dread.

Yet the quiet truth is that inflation doesn’t hit everyone equally. Essentials like food, rent, and medical care often rise faster than the general inflation index used to calculate COLA. Many seniors will watch that increase disappear into higher premiums, prescription costs, and utilities before it ever feels real. The adjustment is a lifeline—but a fragile one. Beneficiaries are urged to plan carefully, read their December benefit notices closely, and lean on trusted resources like SSA, AARP, and Medicare.gov to protect every dollar.