The good-ish news is that this is slightly higher than the 2.5% COLA for 2025. The could-be-better news is that this COLA is fairly modest, and below the 3.4% average since COLAs became routine in 1975. Again, it's important to remember that the official COLA won't be announced until Oct. 15, and this estimate shouldn't be taken as definitive.

The Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is projected to be higher next year, but it still might not be enough for many older Americans to live off.

Social Security is a crucial income source that many retirees rely on pretty heavily to help them make ends meet. While these benefits only replace around 40% of pre-retirement income, they are guaranteed to last for life,

The Social Security Act was signed into law in August 1935 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and has been a cornerstone of retirement for millions of Americans. Social Security just hit its 90th birthday.

Two new surveys reveal broad misconceptions about how the Social Security program works, and where the money goes.

The projected 2026 COLA increase is now 2.7%—up from 2.4%, the lowest in years. Here’s how the change affects retiree homeowners.

At 65, you should have at least 20 years to run the gamut.

A new study shows that Social Security recipients have gone beyond cutting back on discretionary spending, and they report that their benefits are not enough to cover necessities.

1. Book in advance As of January 6, 2025, the SSA moved to appointment-only for most in-office services. The agency says the change has reduced average wait times from 30 minutes to less than 23 minutes. 2. Go digital Create a My Social Security account to skip the phone altogether. In 2024, SSA processed more than 441 million transactions online.