Retirement Social Security

Social Security Is Changing in 2026, These 5 Updates Could Affect Your Check

Key Social Security changes in 2026 that could affect your check.

By David Maina

Edited by Laura Hohenstein

Updated Dec. 31, 2025

Social Security is changing in 2026, and those updates could affect your monthly check in several ways. New rules may change how much you receive, when payments arrive, and how deductions or earnings limits apply.

The 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is the headline change, but it's not the only one. Other changes could quietly influence your monthly income and your ability to retire comfortably.

Below are the key changes to know and how they may show up in your monthly check.

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Bigger COLA boost

Starting in January 2026, Social Security and SSI benefits will increase by 2.8%. That's a larger raise than the 2.5% COLA in 2025, and it applies automatically.

For the average retired worker, the increase works out to about $56 more per month. The adjustment is tied to inflation through the CPI-W, so beneficiaries don't need to apply or take any action.

Nearly everyone who receives Social Security will see the bump, including retirees, disabled workers, and survivors, along with about 7.5 million SSI recipients.

And even if you've been collecting benefits for years, this change matters as the increase becomes part of your new base benefit, shaping every future payment going forward.

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Higher earnings limits for working retirees

If you collect Social Security before full retirement age (FRA) and keep working, you'll get a little more breathing room in 2026. The earnings limits tied to the retirement earnings test are going up.

For anyone under full retirement age all year, you can earn up to $24,480 in 2026, up from $23,400 in 2025. In the year you reach full retirement age, the limit jumps to $65,160, up from $62,160.

Earn more than those amounts, and Social Security withholds $1 for every $2 earned over the limit before FRA, and $1 for every $3 in the year you reach FRA.

The higher thresholds mean you can keep more of your paycheck without triggering benefit reductions.

There's another change worth noting if you're still working. The maximum taxable earnings base rises to $184,500 in 2026. More of your income will be subject to Social Security taxes, but those earnings can also count toward future benefit calculations.

Medicare premiums rise, cutting into Social Security checks

Medicare will take a larger share of Social Security benefits in 2026. The standard Part B premium rises to $202.90 per month, up from $185.00 in 2025, a $17.90 increase for most retirees. The Part B deductible also climbs, from $257 to $283.

These changes matter because Part B premiums are usually deducted automatically from Social Security payments. For many beneficiaries, that higher premium will shrink the net deposit they see each month, even after the 2.8% COLA takes effect.

Other Medicare costs are moving up as well. The Part A inpatient deductible increases to $1,736, though most retirees with enough work history still pay no monthly premium for Part A.

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New tax break could eliminate Social Security taxes for many seniors

A new federal tax break may reduce, or even eliminate, taxes on Social Security benefits starting with the 2025 tax year (filed in 2026). The change comes from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which created an additional deduction for taxpayers age 65 and older.

Eligible seniors can deduct up to $6,000 if single or $12,000 if married filing jointly, on top of the standard deduction. This lowers taxable income enough that some retirees will no longer owe federal tax on their Social Security benefits.

The White House claims nearly 88% of beneficiaries will pay zero federal tax on their benefits under the new rules, though skeptics question that number.

The deduction begins to phase out at $75,000 for singles and $150,000 for couples, and it is currently set to expire after 2028. Higher earners may still owe tax, but some middle- and lower-income retirees will see their Social Security benefits become fully tax-free.

Improved service and digital tools for beneficiaries

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has upgraded how beneficiaries manage their accounts and get help. By mid-2025, the my Social Security portal moved to 24/7 availability, ending the regular downtime that frustrated many users. SSA also expanded new phone features, including callback options, across most field offices.

The impact has been measurable. SSA reports handling about 1.3 million calls in a single week, roughly 70% more than a year earlier, while cutting average hold times to about six minutes. In-person wait times at field offices are also down an estimated 20% to 30%.

These changes don't raise your benefit amount, but they may make it easier to apply, fix problems, and get answers without long delays.

Bottom line

Several Social Security changes are rolling in at once, and a short check now can prevent unpleasant surprises later. Take a moment to confirm your information, review your COLA and Medicare notices, and adjust tax withholding if your benefits will be taxed differently.

The upside is that many of these updates either raise benefits or make them easier to manage. Paying attention now gives you time to adapt and keeps you moving toward a stress-free retirement, instead of scrambling after new rules take effect.

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