Story perspectives

2026 COLA Announcement Set Amid Shutdown, Medicare Hikes Expected

10/17/2025

Summary

Social Security Adjustment

The Social Security Administration will announce the 2026 Cost-of-Living Adjustment on October 24, 2025, due to the shutdown.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics will release the September Consumer Price Index on October 24, 2025, for COLA calculations.
Projections indicate a 2.7% COLA, about $54 more per month for retirees.
Medicare premiums are expected to rise by over 11%, offsetting the COLA, as Social Security payments continue during the shutdown.

Summary

Shutdown Disrupts SSA

The ongoing U.S. government shutdown has entered its second week, furloughing thousands of Social Security Administration (SSA) employees and reducing SSA service availability.
SSA and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments will continue, but essential tasks like replacing Medicare cards and issuing proof of income letters are suspended.
The 2026 cost-of-living adjustment announcement has been delayed from October 15 to October 24 due to the shutdown.

History

Historical Context

The Social Security Act, signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on August 14, 1935, established a federal safety net for retirees amid the Great Depression. This landmark legislation introduced unemployment insurance and old-age benefits, significantly reducing elder poverty. As of 2025, a projected 2.7% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is delayed due to a government shutdown, affecting thousands reliant on these benefits.

1 of 3

Social Security Adjustment

The Social Security Administration will announce the 2026 Cost-of-Living Adjustment on October 24, 2025, due to the shutdown.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics will release the September Consumer Price Index on October 24, 2025, for COLA calculations.
Projections indicate a 2.7% COLA, about $54 more per month for retirees.
Medicare premiums are expected to rise by over 11%, offsetting the COLA, as Social Security payments continue during the shutdown.

1 / 3