By Charlene Crowell
As the federal government shutdown that began on October 1 continues, over 74 million citizens await an important but delayed announcement: Social Security’s 2026 Cost of Living Adjustment, also known as COLA. Originally planned for October 15, the 2026 COLA will now be announced on October 24.
The delay is caused by the need to complete the third quarter’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) report that spans data for the three months of July, August, and September. This report is an essential part of annual COLA calculations. Employees with the Bureau of Labor Statistics were recently called back for its completion. Legally, the Social Security Administration is required to announce the annual COLA before November 1 each year to ensure timely implementation of the increase t