📋 Shutdown May Postpone 2026 Cost of Living Announcement (AARP Article)

[SummerOnTheWay1]

FROM THE ARTICLE.

Lengthy stoppage would delay release of inflation data that’s key to calculating the Social Security benefit boost.

By Andy Markowitz and Deirdre Shesgreen, AARP. Published October 01, 2025.

The government shutdown that began Oct. 1 will not prevent Social Security recipients from getting their monthly payments, but it might keep them in suspense about how much those payments will increase next year.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) was set to announce the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2026 on Oct. 15, when the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is slated to release its report on September inflation.

USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE.

https://www.aarp.org/social-security/will-shutdown-affect-cola-announcement/

[GailL1 · Accepted solution]

It is gonna be what it is gonna be so regardless of whether it is mid October or a bit later, isn’t gonna matter in any way except for the suspense.

What comes out about the same time that will also be suspenseful is the Medicare Part B premium announcement and for some the Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount or IRMAA.  Then there is the new Part A and Part B deductibles for 2026.  

trying to keep from biting my nails in suspense but here again, it is what it is -  

[JohnC728129 · Accepted solution]

the CPI will be released on Oct 24 at 8:30 AM so we should know the COLA increase then. 

[GailL1 · Accepted solution]

It is gonna be what it is gonna be so regardless of whether it is mid October or a bit later, isn’t gonna matter in any way except for the suspense.

What comes out about the same time that will also be suspenseful is the Medicare Part B premium announcement and for some the Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount or IRMAA.  Then there is the new Part A and Part B deductibles for 2026.  

trying to keep from biting my nails in suspense but here again, it is what it is -