The 2026 Social Security COLA: What Changed and What It Means for Your Retirement
By now, you've received your notice from Social Security: benefits increased by 2.8% in January 2026. For the average retiree, that means about $56 more per month—raising the average benefit from $2,015 to $2,071. If that number feels modest, you're not alone. In a recent survey, 77% of older adults said a 3% increase wouldn't be enough to help them keep up with rising prices. And if you're enrolled in Medicare Part B, the picture gets even more complicated: the standard premium increased by $17.90 per month in 2026, eating into more than 30% of that COLA before you see [...]
Social Security and the 2033 Question
Social Security is likely part of your retirement plan—but how much can you actually count on it? And when should you start taking benefits? The answers depend on understanding what Social Security really is, how it works, and where you are in life. Some observations: In Fleming v Nestor (1960), the Supreme Court ruled that Social Security benefits are not an “accrued property right” or contractual obligation. Paying Social Security taxes does not grant a worker a legally binding entitlement to receive specific benefits in the future. Social Security has always been “pay as you go,” meaning benefits were paid [...]