Social Security announcement delayed amid government shutdown

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The government shutdown is causing delays for millions of Americans waiting on the Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) announcement for 2026.

While Social Security payments will continue as scheduled, the official COLA update, normally released in mid-October, is now expected on Friday, Oct. 24 instead of Wednesday. The delay stems from the Bureau of Labor Statistics postponing the September inflation report, which is essential for calculating the COLA. The Social Security Administration (SSA) is legally required to announce the adjustment before Nov. 1.

Social Security checks, including retirement, disability and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), will not be interrupted during the shutdown. These benefits are funded through dedicated trust funds and are considered mandatory spending, meaning they do not rely on congressional appropriations.

However, some services at local Social Security offices are limited. Beneficiaries can still apply for benefits, request appeals and replace lost Social Security cards, but tasks like issuing proof of income letters or replacing Medicare cards may be unavailable. The SSA recommends using the My Social Security online account for most services.

Experts predict the 2026 COLA increase will be about 2.7%, slightly higher than last year’s 2.5% adjustment. For the average monthly retirement benefit of $2,007, that means an increase of roughly $54 per month. However, rising Medicare premiums, expected to jump by more than 11%, could offset much of that gain. Beneficiaries will see the COLA reflected in their January 2026 payments regardless of the announcement delay.

This story was written with the assistance of AI.