COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Approximately 2.33 million Michigan residents will see a 2.8% increase in their Social Security benefits starting in January 2026.
Officially announced by the Social Security Administration back in October, this cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) aims to help the state’s 1.7 million retirees and thousands of disability and survivor benefit recipients keep pace with inflation.
For the average retiree, monthly payments are expected to rise by roughly $56, moving from $2,015 to $2,071.
Recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) will receive their boosted payments slightly earlier, on December 31, 2025, due to the New Year’s Day holiday.
To see specific payment amounts, residents can access their my Social Security account online or wait for personalized notices scheduled to arrive via mail by the end of December.
Despite the increase, experts warn that rising healthcare costs may offset a significant portion of the gain for many seniors. The standard Medicare Part B monthly premium is set to rise to $202.90 in 2026, while the annual deductible will increase to $283.
These adjustments could reduce the effective net gain for the average retiree to approximately $38 per month. Other notable changes for 2026 include an increased earnings limit of $24,480 for those working while receiving benefits and a new maximum monthly benefit of $4,152 for those retiring at the full retirement age, which reaches 67 for individuals born in 1960.
January payments will be disbursed on a staggered schedule—January 14, 21, and 28—based on the recipient’s birth date.
Every time our ss goes up everyone has they’re hands out for an increase. Medicare goes up when we get a raise. So does my secondary insurance. So how does this help?