SSA Plans 2026 Social Security COLA Announcement October 24 After Government Shutdown Delay
SSA Plans 2026 Social Security COLA Announcement October 24 After Government Shutdown Delay

SSA Plans 2026 Social Security COLA Announcement October 24 After Government Shutdown Delay

News summary

The announcement of the 2026 Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) has been delayed due to the ongoing U.S. federal government shutdown, which postponed the release of the crucial September 2025 Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The new release date for the CPI-W data and the subsequent COLA announcement is set for October 24, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. ET, a delay that affects over 70 million Americans relying on Social Security benefits. Despite the shutdown, Social Security payments continue to be sent on time, but the delay in COLA calculation means beneficiaries will have to wait longer to know their inflation-adjusted benefit increases. Early inflation data suggests a modest COLA increase of around 2.7%, marking a potential historic fifth consecutive year of a raise at or above 2.5%, the highest five-year average since 1985. Economists express concerns about staffing and the broader economic impact of the prolonged shutdown, emphasizing the importance of timely and accurate data for benefit calculations and economic stability.

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