The Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced a new Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for the upcoming year, designed to help recipients manage rising inflation and increased living costs. Millions of Americans, particularly seniors, are set to benefit from this adjustment.
This year’s COLA represents a 3.2% increase, which is lower than last year’s historic 8.7% rise. Over 70 million beneficiaries, including retirees, disabled individuals, and others who rely on Social Security, will experience changes in their monthly payments starting in
Based on current estimates, here’s what you can expect from Social Security benefits by 2025:
The COLA is designed to help Social Security beneficiaries keep up with inflation. Rising living costs, especially for essentials like food, healthcare, and housing, disproportionately affect those on fixed incomes. While this year’s increase provides some relief, many argue it may not fully offset actual expenses, particularly for medical care.
For more details on the Social Security COLA and how it impacts you, visit the official SSA website or check trusted resources like
The wait is unlikely to be worth the reward for most retirees.
Under normal circumstances, this would be the most-anticipated week of the year for the more than 70 million traditional beneficiaries currently receiving a monthly Social Security payout.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) had been scheduled to release the September inflation report on Oct. 15 at 08:30 a.m., ET, which is the final puzzle piece needed for the Social Security Administration (SSA) to announce the 2026 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). But due to factors beyond the SSA’s and BLS’s control, which I’ll touch on in a moment, this highly awaited reveal has been delayed.
If you’re a retired worker, worker with a long-term disability, or a survivor of a deceased worker who’s currently receiving monthly Social Security income, here’s the rundown of everything you need to know about this delay, the new inflation report release date, and what to expect when the 2026 COLA is announced.
Image source: Getty Images.
Social Security’s “COLA” is the tool the SSA leans on in an attempt to keep program beneficiaries from losing buying power. Hypothetically, if the cost for a broad swath of goods and services regularly purchased by program recipients rose by 4% from one year to the next, benefits would need to rise by the same percentage to ensure the same amount of goods and services can be purchased the following year. The cost-of-living adjustment is effectively a “raise” in monthly benefits designed to mirror the effects of inflation.
The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) has been Social Security’s cost-tracking tool since 1975. Though the CPI-W reported as a single figure on a monthly basis, which makes for easy year-over-year comparisons to determine if prices are, collectively, rising (inflation) or falling (deflation), only readings from the third quarter (July, August, and September) factor into the COLA calculation.
On Oct. 1, a federal government shutdown began due to the inability of elected officials in Congress (specifically the Senate) to pass federal funding legislation. While a government shutdown doesn’t impact the ability of the SSA to dole out monthly benefits, it
The government shutdown is directly responsible for this temporary delay in the 2026 COLA announcement.
The good news is that even if the federal government shutdown persists, the BLS has laid out a new reporting date for the September inflation data.
According to information obtained by CNBC, the BLS is bringing back some of its workers to compile the necessary pricing data to report the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) and the CPI-W on Friday, Oct. 24, at 08:30am, ET — nine days after this data was originally to be released.
An uptick in the prevailing inflation rate lifted Social Security COLAs in recent years. US Inflation Rate data by YCharts.
Normally, the SSA publishes its Social Security Fact Sheet mere minutes after the release of the BLS September inflation report. This two-page online document lays out the COLA for the upcoming year, as well as a laundry list of other changes, such as the maximum taxable earnings cap, maximum monthly payout at full retirement age, and withholding thresholds tied to the retirement earnings test, to name a few.
While the SSA will announce the 2026 COLA on Oct. 24, it’s not clear if it’ll be reported as expeditiously as it usually does.
The good news is you’ll be able to easily calculate your 2026 “raise” using data we already have (which is outlined below) and a single figure from the upcoming September inflation report.
To calculate Social Security’s 2026 COLA, the average CPI-W reading from the third quarter (Q3) of the current year is compared to the average Q3 CPI-W reading from 2024. If the current-year average is higher, inflation has occurred and beneficiaries will see their benefits climb. The year-over-year percentage difference, rounded to the nearest tenth of a percent, equals next year’s COLA.
In 2024, the July, August, and September CPI-W readings were 308.501, 308.640, and 309.046, respectively, which averages out to 308.729.
Meanwhile, the July and August CPI-W readings from the current year are 316.349 and 317.306, respectively. Once the CPI-W is reported for September, you’d add it, 316.349, and 317.306, and divide by 3 to get the 2025 Q3 average CPI-W reading. Subtract the average Q3 2024 CPI-W reading (308.729) from the average Q3 2025 CPI-W reading, then divide this remaining number into the average Q3 2024 CPI-W reading (308.729), multiply by 100, and round to the nearest tenth of a percent. That’ll be the 2026 cost-of-living adjustment — and you won’t have to wait to hear about it from the SSA.
Based solely on independent estimates, Social Security raises for the upcoming year are expected to do something that hasn’t been witnessed since 1997.
According to nonpartisan senior advocacy group The Senior Citizens League (TSCL), payouts are forecast to climb by 2.7% in 2026. Meanwhile, independent Social Security and Medicare policy analyst Mary Johnson foresees benefits rising by 2.8% in the new year.
While a 2.7% or 2.8% benefit increase may not sound historic, it would mark the first time this century, and 29 years in total, since program recipients enjoyed five consecutive years with COLAs meeting or surpassing 2.5%. The last time this happened was 1988 through 1997, when COLAs clocked in between 2.6% and 5.4% each year.
If the assumption is made that TSCL or Johnson are correct with their forecasts, the average retired-worker beneficiary would see their payout climb $54 to $56 per month next year. As for the average worker with disabilities and survivor beneficiary, their monthly Social Security income would each rise $43 to $44, respectively.
Image source: Getty Images.
Despite the expected historic nature of the 2026 COLA, which is being lifted in part by President Donald Trump’s tariff and trade policy, the delay in its announcement is unlikely to be worth the reward for most retirees.
For starters, COLAs haven’t been doing a particularly good job of keeping up with the actual inflation seniors are contending with. This is a reflection of the inherent flaws built into the CPI-W.
This is an index that tracks the cost pressures faced by “urban wage earners and clerical workers,” who in most cases are working-age Americans not currently receiving a Social Security benefit. In comparison, 87% of Social Security recipients were age 62 and above, as of December 2024. Retirees and urban wage earners-clerical workers have very different inflationary concerns.
Retirees tend to spend a higher percentage of their monthly budget on shelter and medical care services, compared to the average worker. Not only is the added importance of these two spending categories not being factored into the CPI-W, but the trailing-12-month inflation rate for these two spending categories has been consistently higher than the COLAs passed along to beneficiaries.
Long story short, the purchasing power of Social Security income for retirees will likely decline in 2026.
Were this not enough, Social Security beneficiaries enrolled in traditional Medicare will see some or all of their COLA get gobbled up by a projected double-digit percentage increase in next year’s Part B premium.
Part B is the portion of Medicare responsible for outpatient services, and its premium is commonly deducted from the monthly payout of Social Security beneficiaries. With the 2025 Medicare Trustees Report estimating an 11.5% increase in the Part B premium to $206.20/month in 2026, it’s likely that dual enrollees will get the short end of the stick, yet again.
If you’re like most Americans, you’re a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known “Social Security secrets” could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. For example: one easy trick could pay you as much as $23,760 more… each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we’re all after.
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Everyone has experienced the discomfort of trying to sleep in a stuffy, hot environment. It is more difficult to fall asleep, difficult to go deeper into a deep slumber, and impossible to remain comfortable during the night when sleeping in a stifling, scorching room.
If you want to sleep better on hot summer evenings, you might want to think about using a fan rather than air conditioning. A fan, though, might not be the best option, as we think it is. Even though a fan seems straightforward, it cannot offer the comfort we anticipate.
Study: New research indicates that a lower body temperature (preferably between 65 and 68°F, but as low as 60°F) in the bedroom encourages more restorative sleep. [1]
In order to help you have a deeper, more rejuvenating sleep, we’ll go over the main arguments against using a fan to keep cool in bed as well as provide a better alternative.
A lot of individuals, particularly in warmer climates or during the summer, sleep with a fan on all night long. Still, only a few people are aware of the various health hazards associated with this seemingly innocuous method of staying cool.
Even though the majority of these problems are very small and usually cause more annoyance than harm, they are significant enough to make you reconsider depending on a fan for comfort at night.
Because fans move dust, pollen, pet dander, and other allergens in the air, they can exacerbate allergies and respiratory conditions. Allergies may worsen when the fan is switched on because it may release allergens that become lodged in the air filter or fan blades.
Without your knowledge, dust mites and household allergens may accumulate over time on the ceiling fan blades.
This may result in symptoms including congestion, itchy eyes, coughing, and sneezing. It is advised that the fan blades and air filter be routinely cleaned to decrease allergens and lessen typical allergy symptoms.
Did you know that studies have linked seasonal allergies to snoring, poor sleep quality, and sleep disorders? [2]
Your fan’s air can dry out your mouth, throat, and nose, irritate your sinuses, and cause your body to generate too much mucus, which can cause congestion and headaches.
In addition, sleeping with a fan might cause sore throats. If you’re allergic, the continual breeze could be uncomfortable for you. The continuous airflow from the fan may exacerbate your symptoms if you are already ill, making you feel worse than before.
Use a humidifier or put a glass of water next to your bed if you plan to use a fan. By doing this, you can lessen the drying effect of the fan and avoid any potential pain.
It’s not uncommon to wake up with sore muscles or a stiff neck, and, strangely enough, using a fan to circulate air while you sleep might actually make your muscles tense. Muscle strain can result from a fan’s nighttime continuous air circulation, particularly in areas that are immediately exposed to the airflow.
If the fan is placed near your face or neck, this issue is more serious. Long-term exposure to a cool breeze can cause the muscles to stiffen up from the steady blast of air, making it difficult to move and causing you to wake up hurting or with a stiff neck.
You can solve this problem by repositioning the fan so that air doesn’t blow straight into your face while you sleep. You might try angling the fan so that air flows around the space without coming into close contact with your body.
For people who already have a tendency toward dryness, the constant wind from a desk or ceiling fan at night can cause dry skin and eyes.
The constant airflow from the fan accelerates the evaporation of moisture from the skin and eyes, depriving them of their natural lubricant. As a result, there is uncomfortable dryness, tight or flaky skin, and itchy or inflamed eyes.
The severity of these symptoms may be increased in those with eczema or sensitive eyes. Furthermore, using a fan on a regular basis over time may cause irritation or even more severe eye issues if you wear contact lenses, increasing pain.
When deciding whether to use a fan while you sleep, it’s crucial to take these factors into account, particularly if you already have dry skin or eyes.
A fan’s airflow can dry up your throat, nose, and mouth, which may cause your body to generate more mucus. This may cause symptoms including headaches, stuffy noses, or even louder snoring.
While using a fan by itself won’t likely get you sick, it can make your current symptoms worse if you’re not feeling well. Congestion may be reduced by drinking plenty of water and using a humidifier in addition to a fan.
For light sleepers or those who prefer an entirely silent sleeping environment, even a low hum from a fan might cause major disruptions to their sleep.
Even if some fans are made to run softly, they nevertheless provide a steady background noise that is audible in the serenity of the evening. This noise, which can range in volume from a soft buzzing to a loud humming, can disrupt the sleep-wake cycle and cause trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.
This can lead to a reduction in the quality of sleep for those who are sensitive to auditory disruptions because they may experience less deep sleep or more fragmented sleep. Furthermore, it can be difficult for people who are used to sleeping in complete silence to get used to the sound of a fan, which could cause longer-term sleep difficulties.
Did You Know: The Chilipad Dock Pro noise reduces background noise to 41–46 decibels, so you won’t even notice it’s on. Furthermore, regardless of the temperature in your bedroom or the heat your body produces, it is guaranteed to maintain your ideal sleeping temperature, which is between 55 and 115 °F.
Did you know that nighttime air movement might cause you to wake up and worsen sleep disturbances? Thus, the things you use to enhance your sleep can interfere with it.
Fans may exacerbate or cause health problems while providing little help in keeping you cool at night. Using our cooling mattress pad is one way to stay cool at night and fall asleep instead of using a fan.
They are made to keep you cool, comfy, and free from overheating throughout the entire night. Normal mattresses make it hard to stay cool since they retain your body heat and reflect it back towards you.
To avoid overheating and sleeping too hot, hot sleepers can control their body temperature with our cooling mattress pads.
It’s critical to recognize a fan’s limitations when it comes to room cooling. A fan only moves air around, even if it may seem as though it is lowering the temperature in the space.
When the air flows over your body, this movement produces a breeze or wind chill effect, which makes you feel colder. But neither the room’s real temperature nor your body’s core temperature are being lowered by the fan.
This distinction becomes more important when the weather is exceptionally hot. A fan only circulates the heated air already present in the room, not removing any of the heat, hence, it is useless if the ambient air temperature is already high. This suggests that even while the breeze may provide you with some short-term respite, the room’s temperature remains constant overall.
Because they are unable to lower the temperature like an air conditioner can, fans are comparatively useless in hot weather.
Although the Chilipad sleep system has already been discussed, there are further options for sleeping in a cooler environment.
Are you looking for additional strategies to keep cool and sleep through the night? Discover practical advice and methods for maintaining your composure at night and enhancing the quality of your sleep by reading our blog.
It’s evident that fans have drawbacks despite being a common way to stay cool and decorate your space. There are a number of negative consequences to sleeping with a fan on, including the ability to aggravate allergies, dry up your skin and eyes, and induce muscular stiffness and sleep disturbances due to noise.
It’s critical to balance these considerations with your unique requirements and sleeping habits. Other solutions that can provide comfort without the drawbacks of a fan include permeable bedding, cooling mattress toppers, and keeping the temperature of the room lower.
To ensure continuous, deep sleep, keep in mind that the perfect sleeping environment strikes a balance between comfort, temperature, and personal choice.