Technologies

2026 Social Security COLA Predictions: How Much More Money Will You Get Next Year?

What will the 2026 COLA be? Here’s what the experts are predicting.

As we near the official 2026 COLA announcement from the Social Security administration, recipients are wondering how much more they will receive in their monthly payments next year. We’re still a few months out before we have an official answer, but you don’t have to wait until the expected October announcement to get some insight.

Experts in the field have been making predictions for the 2026 COLA since the beginning of this year, and an initial prediction of a 2.1% bump next year has been followed by a slight shift upward month by month. Whether these expert takes will match the official number remains to be seen — especially with the economic uncertainty spurred by the Trump administration’s tariffs agenda — but we’ll break down the latest for you below.

I’ve been steeping myself in all things Social Security for the past year, writing timely articles that surface the most relevant details for existing and soon-to-be beneficiaries and their families. Even if, like me, you’re a long way from retirement, staying up to date with expert takes will keep you informed for when it’s time for you or your loved ones to retire. The COLA adjustment will be one of the most important announcements of the year.

For more, don’t miss the Social Security and SSDI cheat sheet.

What is the COLA?

The cost-of-living adjustment, otherwise known as the COLA or COLA increase, is an annual change in the payment scale made by the Social Security Administration. It’s pegged to the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, which measures the average changes in prices for consumer goods and services and is updated monthly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. These monthly snapshots in the changes to prices of goods and services allow the SSA to see the overall average and determine the COLA for the following year as a percentage of the current payment levels.

For Social Security and Supplemental Security Insurance recipients, the COLA percentage represents how much more you’ll receive in monthly benefits in the new year. It takes effect Jan. 1 and stays in effect for the calendar year.

The official COLA announcement typically takes place sometime in October.

Some are not happy with how the COLA is calculated

How the COLA is calculated has become a hot topic, given that the model sets the adjustment for the entire year ahead.

The Senior Citizens League, a nonpartisan advocacy group for older adults, last year conducted a study of 3,000 older adults. A key takeaway: 72% of respondents said that Congress should prioritize changing the COLA calculation to an index that’s more reflective of the changing expenses for seniors, like the CPI-E.

Government benefits that are affected by the COLA

There are multiple government benefits that use the COLA to make adjustments. In addition to Social Security, the adjustment applies to Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income, Medicare, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to account for inflation when setting benefits.

Expert predictions for the 2026 COLA increase

The League provides monthly predictions of the upcoming COLA for the following year, and they were spot on for 2025, predicting a 2.5% COLA.

In January, the League predicted a 2.1% increase for 2026 and has adjusted that upward since then. In May 2025, the prediction was pushed to 2.4%. The prediction came after the recent executive order by the Trump administration, targeting pharmaceutical companies and pushing for cheaper drug costs.

Its latest prediction, released last month, bumped the COLA to 2.5%. Each prediction for the past four months has been raised slightly, and we may get a new prediction from The League any day now.

COLA Increases 2020 — 2025

Year	COLA Increase	% change vs. the previous year
2025	2.50%	-0.70%
2024	3.20%	-5.50%
2023	8.70%	2.80%
2022	5.90%	4.60%
2021	1.30%	-0.30%
2020	1.60%

For more, don’t miss the Social Security and SSDI cheat sheet.

Technologies

Episode 3 of the VERUM AI Mini-Series Is Now Available

Verum Messenger has released the third episode of its AI mini-series, SHADOWS, created using Verum AI.

The new episode, titled «Ghost Money,» continues the story of the conflict between a team of heroes and the Omega corporation, which seeks to take control of digital communications. This time, the focus shifts to anonymous payments and financial freedom, revealing how privacy can extend beyond messaging.

Like the previous episodes, the new release not only advances the storyline but also showcases the capabilities of the Verum ecosystem, highlighting technologies designed for secure communication and digital privacy.

The mini-series consists of seven episodes, released gradually across Verum Messenger’s social media channels.

Episode 3 is now available. Stay tuned for the next chapter.

Watch on Instagram
Watch on YouTube

Technologies

Verum Finance Now Available for Mac, Expanding the Verum Ecosystem on Desktop

Verum has officially released Verum Finance for macOS, bringing its financial platform to the Mac and expanding access to the Verum ecosystem across Apple’s devices. The launch allows users to manage their finances from desktop while enjoying the same secure and seamless experience available on iPhone and iPad.

The new Mac version includes the full range of Verum Finance features, including balance management, instant transfers to other Verum users, debit card management, Apple Pay support, asset exchange, and transaction history — all optimized for the macOS experience.

Verum Finance can be used as a standalone application or alongside Verum Messenger. Users who sign in with their Verum Messenger account automatically synchronize their balances, settings, and account data across devices, ensuring a consistent experience throughout the Verum ecosystem.

The macOS release further strengthens Verum’s vision of creating an integrated digital platform where communication and financial services work together. Verum Messenger, which is also available for Mac, complements the ecosystem with encrypted messaging, voice and video calls, VPN, eSIM, anonymous email, AI-powered tools, offline communication capabilities, and cryptocurrency features.

With both Verum Messenger and Verum Finance now available across iPhone, iPad, and Mac, users can access secure communication and financial services wherever they work.

Verum Finance for Mac is available now through the Mac App Store.

Verum Finance for macOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/verum-finance/id6774245148
Verum Finance: https://finance.verum.im
Verum Messenger: https://verum.im

Technologies

Why Travelers Are Switching to Verum E-SIM This Summer

Summer Travel, Freedom, and Seamless Connectivity: Why Verum E-SIM Is Becoming the New Standard for Travelers

Summer is the peak season for vacations, long-distance trips, and new experiences. Millions of people travel abroad, explore new countries, plan adventures, and try to stay connected with family, work, and social media. And in the middle of all this comes a familiar question: how do you stay online without expensive roaming or the hassle of buying local SIM cards?

The answer is already here — eSIM.

Why eSIM Is So Convenient

eSIM (embedded SIM) is a built-in digital SIM card that lets you activate mobile internet without a physical card. All you need is an app — choose a plan and connect in just a couple of minutes.

No more:

* searching for local SIM cards at airports
* paying expensive roaming fees
* swapping physical SIMs every time you travel

Now your internet travels with you.

Internet in 150+ Countries

Modern eSIM solutions provide coverage in 150+ countries worldwide, helping tourists, freelancers, and business travelers stay connected almost anywhere on the planet.

Among the services offering these capabilities:

Verum E-SIM — https://esim.verum.im
World E-SIM — https://worldesim.me
USA E-SIM — https://usa.esim.verum.im
Euro E-SIM — https://euro.esim.verum.im
Canada E-SIM — https://canada.esim.verum.im
Balkan E-SIM — https://balkan.esim.verum.im
Ukraine E-SIM — https://ukraine.esim.verum.im
London E-SIM — https://london.esim.verum.im
E-SIM Africa — https://africa.esim.verum.im