Social Security benefits increase each year to keep up with rising prices. This yearly boost is called the Cost-of-Living Adjustment, or COLA. For 2026, For 2026, experts expect the COLA to increase by around 2.7%. That means a retiree receiving $1,800 per month could see an extra $49 per month, or nearly $600 more over the year. The COLA is based on inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).