WASHINGTON — Millions of Social Security recipients will get a 2.8% cost-of-living increase to their monthly checks beginning in January, .

This year's announcement for the cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, was due to the ongoing government shutdown. It was initially supposed to be announced nine days earlier on Oct. 15.

The 2026 COLA for retirees translates to an average increase of about $56 per month, agency officials said.

How much will social security increase in 2026?

While agency officials put the 2026 increase at about $56, , said on average, retired workers’ Social Security checks will increase by $54 from $2,008 to $2,062 starting Jan. 1, 2026.

"From a historic standpoint, this COLA is about average, ranking 29th out of the 51 COLAs announced since the government tied COLA

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