Next year is going to be a big one for Social Security thanks to the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), proposed Senate bills and more. And while most of these changes will result in you taking home more money each month, it’s important to know why the changes are being made and when you’ll notice a difference in your payments. Read on for all you need to know about the most important Social Security in 2026.
2026 Social Security changes
From increased checks to new wage base increases, here are the most important 2026 Social Security changes to be aware of.
Monthly checks are increasing by 2.8 percent
Thanks to the annual COLA increase, everyone’s monthly Social Security checks are increasing by 2.8 percent. The increase will be reflected in the first payment sent out for 2026 and is expected to help seniors fight inflation, tariffs and more. But some experts warn that might not happen.
“COLA might reflect the inflation rate, but it is woefully insufficient for older Americans who already have high healthcare costs and are facing even greater increases in their Medicare costs in 2026,” Ramsey Alwin, CEO of the National Council on Aging said in a statement. “This COLA will not even cover the projected increases in Medicare premiums and deductibles, which are expected to range between 4 percent and 12 percent. Once again, older adults will have to make heart-wrenching decisions about whether to spend their fixed incomes on healthcare, food or housing.”
The wage base limit is increasing as well
Each year the Social Security wage base limit goes up, and in 2026 it’s climbing to $184,500—an $8,400 increase from 2025. What that means: People filing a W2 in 2026 will not have to pay the 6.2 percent Social Security tax on any earnings over $184,500.
The retirement age is going up to 67
In 2026 the official retirement age will rise from 66 to 67 for people born in 1960 or after. If that’s you, that means that you won’t be able to start claiming Social Security until 2027. There are also rumors that Social Security Administration (SSA) commissioner Frank Bisignano will increase the age even more in upcoming years in an attempt to keep Social Security from running out by 2034, the year it’s currently projected to. And while it may help for a little while, experts warn this change won’t fully solve the problem.
“As the date [2034] gets closer and closer, Congress really needs to start getting more focused,” Bill Sweeney, senior vice president for government affairs at AARP told CNN. “The American public expects them to get focused on this, to protect the money that they’ve earned.”
Field office visits will be cut in half
Bisignano is currently working to halve the number of people who go into field offices in 2026, encouraging them to use the program’s online services instead.
“With a secure foundation for serving the American people in place, we are moving quickly to achieve our vision of a digital-first SSA—one that operates at peak efficiency and provides world-class service to every American, whether they call, come into a field office or choose to manage their benefits online,” he said in a statement in November. “To do this, we are continuously improving service through the strategic implementation of technology and data-driven management decisions to further enhance the experience across all customer touchpoints.”
Potential changes being made to Social Security in 2026
Along with the confirmed changes, Congress is currently working on several bills that would increase and/or change many Americans’ monthly Social Security benefits. The big ones are as follows.
The Social Security Emergency Inflation Relief Act could give seniors an extra $200
Congress is currently working on approving the Social Security Emergency Inflation Relief Act, which could give seniors an extra $200 a month for six months in 2026.
“No one has a harder time dealing with rising costs than seniors who are living on a fixed income,” Arizona Senator Mark Kelly said in a statement. “Trump’s tariffs are driving up the price of groceries and almost everything else and Social Security benefits just aren’t keeping up. Putting extra money in seniors’ pockets will help them make ends meet while we fight to lower costs for American seniors and families.”
The bill is currently still in discussion, but if it’s approved payments are supposed to begin in January.
The You Earn It, You Keep It Act could eliminate taxes on Social Security
Taxes on Social Security might come to an end if the You Earn It, You Keep It Act gets approved. Currently the bill is still in discussion, but if Congress does pass it, it could take effect almost instantly,
“Like a lot of Americans, I’ve been paying into Social Security since my first job at 14. But despite decades of paying into the system, seniors are still forced to pay taxes on their hard-earned benefits—all while the ultra-wealthy barely pay into the system at all,” Ruben Gallego, a junior Democratic senator from Arizona, said in a statement. “Trump claimed he ended taxes on Social Security. My bill actually does it. Permanently.”
The SWIFT Act could expand who qualifies for survivor benefits
Congress is also currently working to approve the The Surviving Widow(er) Income Fair Treatment (SWIFT) Act, which would allow anyone to claim spousal or survivor benefits—not just people 50 and older. This bill is not approved yet, but if it is, the changes would most likely go into effect immediately.
“The SWIFT Act corrects outdated rules and restrictions and removes barriers limiting Social Security benefits—ensuring widows, widowers and surviving divorced spouses receive the Social Security benefits they rightfully deserve,” Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal said in a statement. “Social Security is a lifeline for Americans, playing a critical role in their economic security and financial well-being—and yet, many individuals face burdensome hurdles and arbitrary requirements preventing them from receiving the full benefits they are owed. With this legislation, we make sure that no American is missing out on the benefits they need to live with dignity.”
