With 2026 on the horizon, many Social Security recipients and future claimants are watching for changes, some minor, some impactful.
While the full details depend on inflation data and program decisions, several key updates are already shaping expectations.
What is the expected COLA (cost-of-living adjustment) for 2026?
The COLA announcement for 2026 has been delayed due to a government shutdown, which disrupted the inflation data release.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) now plans to finalize the 2026 COLA on October 24, 2025, once the September Consumer Price Index (CPI) data is published.
Early forecasts predict the 2026 COLA to be around 2.7 %, slightly above the 2.5 % adjustment recipients received for 2025.
A 2.7 % increase would translate to roughly $54 more per month for the average retiree.
How will maximum taxable earnings change?
One of the expected updates is the rise of the Social Security taxable wage base, the maximum income subject to Social Security (OASDI) tax.
For 2026, projections put that cap at around $183,600.
That means high earners will pay Social Security tax on a larger portion of their income, increasing contributions for those individuals.
Will the full retirement age (FRA) increase again?
The move toward a full retirement age of 67 is now complete for people born in 1960 or later.
That means, in 2026, those claimants will have already reached the final bracket of FRA under the current law.
There is no further increase planned under existing law.
What changes in the earnings test thresholds?
If you claim benefits but continue working, your benefit may be reduced under the earnings test until you reach FRA.
In 2026, the earnings limits are expected to rise to reflect inflation.
For those below full retirement age, the limit may increase to about $24,360, and for those in the year of FRA, to $64,800 before reductions begin.
These increases allow you to earn more without benefit reduction compared to earlier years.
What is the effect of the Social Security Fairness Act repeal?
In early 2025, Congress passed the Social Security Fairness Act, which repeals the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) for many public-sector retirees.
Because of that repeal, more public-sector workers and teachers may receive higher benefits in 2026, without those prior reductions.
This change is fully effective for benefits payable after December 2023.
What changes in identity verification and application processes?
Starting in 2025, the SSA has tightened identity proofing rules.
New and existing recipients who are unable to verify identity online may be required to visit a Social Security field office in person to confirm identity for benefits changes, such as deposit information.
Those rules may continue and potentially impact 2026 claimants. Also, SSA has been working on improving online services, payment processing, and customer options.
What other updates may impact benefits in 2026?
- Clawback/overpayment recovery changes: SSA in 2025 scaled back its overpayment recovery to 50% withholding for some overpayments, avoiding 100% clawback. That policy may continue into 2026.
- Paper checks phased out: As of September 30, 2025, SSA is eliminating paper checks, requiring all benefits to be deposited electronically. Beneficiaries need direct deposit or use a prepaid card. This will be fully in place going into 2026.
- Work rule recalibrations: The SSA’s publications suggest that beginning in 2026, adjustments will apply to how benefits withheld for working (in earlier years) are recouped once you reach full retirement age.
