Social Security COLA 2026 Inflation Gap: Why 2.8% Increase Trails 3.3% Senior Inflation. The 2.8% Social Security COLA for 2026 is failing. It does not cover the 3.3% inflation rate seniors face. This gap creates a silent retirement crisis. Your buying power is shrinking every single day. Government math uses the wrong spending data. They track workers, not retirees. Seniors spend more on healthcare and housing. These costs are rising faster than the general economy. A $58 monthly raise is gone before it arrives. It is swallowed by Medicare Part B premiums. You are receiving a raise that feels like a pay cut.
