That annual Social Security increase announcement can be confusing.

Is it a bonus? Will it cover your rising costs? More importantly, how does it really affect your decisions about when to retire and when to claim your benefits?

In this episode, I unpack the new 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment for 2026. We explore how Social Security benefits grow differently before and after age 62, why the inflation measure might not match your personal expenses, and how your early work years still count. We provide clarity on how delaying your claim and continuing to work can increase your lifetime benefits, especially important for married couples planning for survivor income.

Key Points Covered:

• The meaning behind the 2026 2.8% COLA and why personal inflation may be higher
• How Social Security uses CPI-W, an inflation index for workers, which can undervalue senior expenses like healthcare
• The role of wage indexing in growing your pre-retirement benefits and the “gap” from age 60 to 62
• The powerful impact of delaying your filing age on your monthly benefit and future COLA dollar amounts
• How working in your 50s, 60s, or 70s can replace low-earning years and permanently increase your benefit
• And more!

Resources:

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