Social Security checks saw a 2.5% boost this month thanks to the latest cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). For most retirees, this is the only benefit increase they can expect all year. Their checks won't go up again until the next COLA takes effect in January 2026.

The U.S. government clawed back more than $31 million in Social Security payments that improperly went to dead people, a recovery that one official said Wednesday was “just the tip of the iceberg.”

Key Takeaways For 2026, the Senior Citizens League predicts a smaller cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security benefits compared to last year.They estimate that the COLA will be 2.1% in 2026, which is down from 2.

Several changes to Social Security have gone into effect this year, impacting the nearly 68 million people who receive Social Security payments. Some of these changes are great news for beneficiaries — especially those who may be low on retirement savings.