An advocacy organization anticipates a 2.3% increase in Social Security benefits for the year 2026.

The Senior Citizens League, dedicated to championing the interests of older adults, published its latest forecast regarding the 2026 Social Security cost-of-living adjustment on Wednesday.

This proposed increase of 2.3% is 0.2 percentage points lower than the 2.5% rise that seniors and other beneficiaries received in 2025.

These yearly cost-of-living adjustments are designed to help Social Security recipients adapt to inflation and the rising cost of living.

Advocacy organizations such as The Senior Citizens League assert that these adjustments fall short of keeping up with the actual price increases faced by seniors and have advocated for a revised approach to determining these adjustments.

The adjustment for 2025 marked the smallest increase since 2021, when beneficiaries received a mere 1.3% rise.

In contrast, the 2023 raise was an impressive 8.7%, the largest boost in over 40 years, following an increase of 5.9% in 2022.

These significant increases were primarily driven by the highest inflation rates seen in decades, although inflation has since reduced considerably from its peak of over 9% in 2022.

The Senior Citizens League consistently produces a monthly forecast of these cost-of-living adjustments using a statistical model that factors in the Consumer Price Index, Federal Reserve interest rates, and national unemployment rates.

Throughout the year, the League updates its predictions in response to changing economic conditions.