Retirement Social Security

If Your Social Security Check Is $1,900, Here’s How Much More You’ll Get in 2026

What the 2026 COLA really adds to a $1,900 check and how it fits into rising costs.

By David Maina

Edited by Laura Hohenstein

Updated Nov. 19, 2025

A $1,900 Social Security check covers a lot of ground each month, from groceries and medication to utilities and the recurring charges that chip away at your budget. That's why even a slight welcome boost can matter.

The 2.8% COLA for 2026 provides that lift, but there are a few details worth noting before you count on the increase.

In the next sections, you'll learn what your 2026 raise looks like and how that number matters when you're trying to maximize your senior benefits.

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How Social Security decides your annual raise

The annual COLA comes straight from federal law, and it rises only when inflation does. To set the increase each year, the Social Security Administration uses a specific index called CPI-W (Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers).

SSA compares the CPI-W for the third quarter of the current year with the same three-month period the year before. If prices rose during that window, benefits rise by the same percentage.

For 2026, that year-over-year change came in at 2.8%. SSA measured the CPI-W from July through September of 2024 and again in 2025, and the difference between the two became the official COLA.

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What a 2.8% COLA adds to a $1,900 benefit

A 2.8% COLA on a $1,900 benefit works out to about $53.

That pushes your monthly check to about $1,953 in 2026. For context, SSA says the average retired worker's benefit will rise from about $2,015 to $2,071 next year, a gain of roughly $56.

Small raises matter when your income is fixed. An extra $53 each month adds up to roughly $640 over the year. That money can help cover part of a utility bill, ease grocery costs, or give you a little room to save. It won't erase rising prices, but it does provide a bit more cushion heading into 2026.

How the 2026 COLA stacks up against recent years

The 2.8% COLA for 2026 sits in the middle of the pack. It's higher than the 2.5% increase retirees received for 2025, but below the 3.2% bump in 2024. And it's nowhere near the eye-catching 8.7% raise in 2023, which happened during a surge in inflation.

Since that spike, COLAs have settled into more modest territory. The average COLA has been about 3.1% over the past decade, which makes the 2026 increase slightly below the long-term trend.

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The hidden costs that could reduce your new COLA boost

COLA is meant to keep up with rising prices, but many retirees worry their real expenses are growing faster than 2.8%.

Food prices, for instance, climbed sharply from 2021 through 2023, and the trend hasn't fully cooled. In fact, a survey taken before the announcement found that 77% of older Americans felt even a 3% raise wouldn't cover recent price jumps.

On top of inflation, another big factor is Medicare costs. Most retirees have their Medicare Part B premium taken directly out of their Social Security check, so any increase reduces the net amount they receive.

The Part B premium rose to $185 in 2025, and early estimates show it could reach about $206.50 in 2026.

For someone with a $1,900 check and a $53 COLA increase, the projected Medicare hike could take back about $21 of that amount. So while the raise helps, rising healthcare costs can quickly eat into it.

When to expect your first check with the 2026 COLA

SSA applies the new COLA at the start of the year, so the updated amount will show up in your first January payment. If you get direct deposit, it will appear in your bank account on your usual payment date.

Before that, SSA will notify you of the change. In early December 2025, the agency sends a one-page COLA notice to almost every beneficiary, listing your new monthly amount, Medicare deductions, and the final figure you'll receive.

If you use a my Social Security online account, you may see this update even sooner. SSA says most people will find their 2026 notice in the online message center by late November or early December.

Bottom line

A little extra each month helps, but the 2.8% bump may not cover every rising cost. If the increase feels tight, there are practical steps you can take to stay ahead. For instance, you can stretch your dollars by using loyalty cards or digital coupons to lower weekly costs without changing your routine.

If you're able, adding a small income stream, like tutoring, consulting, or renting a spare room, can help you generate retirement income. It also helps to trim expenses you barely notice, since small cuts across several categories can add up fast.

Each step may feel small on its own, but together they can help you stretch your COLA further and give your budget a little more room for the year ahead.

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