A Social Security first for this century is likely to be offset by a double dose of bad news.

For 85 years, Social Security has been providing a financial foundation for aging workers who could no longer do so for themselves. Based on nearly a quarter century of annual surveys from Gallup, anywhere from 80% to 90% of retirees lean on their monthly Social Security payout to cover some portion of their expenses.

For these 53.3 million retired-worker beneficiaries, the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) reveal in October (slated for Oct. 15 this year) takes on heightened importance.

While independent estimates are universally calling for Social Security history to be made for the first time in close to 30 years , this history-making moment is still unlikely to be enough for the re

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