The federal government shutdown means Social Security's 2026 COLA may not be announced as soon as expected. Without that data, retired workers will be left in the dark concerning the 2026 COLA. What can we guess about Social Security's 2026 COLA? The Social Security Administration needs September CPI (Consumer Price Index) data to calculate the 2026 COLA (cost-of-living adjustment). However, assuming benefits increase 2.7% to 2.8% next year, the average retired worker will receive an addition $54 to $56 per month.