By SVA Publications

Social Security remains the foundation of retirement income for most Americans. Staying informed about program changes helps you maximize your benefits and plan effectively.

2026 Cost-of-Living Adjustment

Each year, Social Security benefits are adjusted based on inflation through the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA). This adjustment helps ensure that benefits keep pace with rising prices for goods and services.

Full Retirement Age

Your full retirement age depends on when you were born. For those born in 1960 or later, full retirement age is 67. Claiming benefits before this age reduces your monthly payment permanently, while delaying until age 70 increases it by 8% per year.

Working While Receiving Benefits

If you claim benefits before full retirement age and continue working, your benefits may be temporarily reduced if you earn above certain limits. However, these reductions are not lost — they are added back to your benefit once you reach full retirement age.

Protecting Your Benefits

Create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov to review your earnings record and estimate future benefits. Report any errors in your earnings history promptly, as this directly affects your benefit amount.