After the first quarter of 2025, the second quarter for the 2026 COLA adjustment period, the quarterly average has increased to 1.2%.
HOW IT WORKS
The 2026 Social Security COLA is based on the third quarter (July, August, September) average CPI-W index (1982-84=100) in 2025 over the 2024 third quarter average.
PAST SOCIAL SECURITY COLA INCREASES
| Year | COLA |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 2.5% |
| 2024 | 3.2% |
| 2023 | 8.7% |
| 2022 | 5.9% |
| 2021 | 1.3% |
| 2020 | 1.6% |
| 2019 | 2.8% |
| 2018 | 2.0% |
| 2017 | 0.3% |
| 2016 | 0.0% |
| 2015 | 1.7% |
| 2014 | 1.5% |
| 2013 | 1.7% |
| 2012 | 3.6% |
| 2011 | 0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.0% |
| 2009 | 5.8% |
| 2008 | 2.3% |
| 2007 | 3.3% |
| 2006 | 4.1% |
| 2005 | 2.7% |
| 2004 | 2.1% |
| 2003 | 1.4% |
| 2002 | 2.6% |
| 2001 | 3.5% |
| 2000 | 2.4% |
| 1999 | 1.3% |
| 1998 | 2.1% |
| 1997 | 2.9% |
| 1996 | 2.6% |
| 1995 | 2.8% |