The Social Security cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, for 2025 is a 2.5% increase. That means the monthly benefits checks for more than 72.5 million Americans will see their lowest annual bump in four years.

COLA likely underestimated inflation in 2024 Social Security's annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) are designed to protect the purchasing power of benefit payments from inflation. In this case,

The Social Security Administration distributes nearly 73 million payments every month to people enrolled in its programs. These payments go to retired

Each year, tens of millions of retirees collecting Social Security benefits anxiously await the upcoming COLA, or cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA). The COLA is a pivotal part of the Social Security program that reflects the next year's increase in Social Security benefits.

The vast majority of seniors surveyed about Social Security's COLA say the number should be as much as five times higher than the government is forking over this year.

Social Security (retirement and survivors) recipients will now see a 2.5% increase in their next check and throughout the year. The COLA increase also extends to Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability insurance recipients.