From the 2.8% COLA increase to the finalized full retirement age of 67, here is everything beneficiaries and workers need to know about Social Security in 2026 — and what it means for your retirement income planning.

Updated: February 2026 | Source: Social Security Administration (SSA)

Every year, the Social Security Administration announces a series of adjustments that affect the more than 70 million Americans who receive Social Security benefits, as well as the nearly 185 million workers still paying into the system.

For most retirees, these annual changes determine whether their monthly retirement income keeps pace with the cost of living — or quietly falls behind.

In 2026, the adjustments are more consequential than usual, touching nearly every dimension of Social Security: the size of monthly benefit checks, the age at which workers can claim full benefits, the earnings limits for those who work while receiving benefits, the payroll tax cap for high-income workers, the cost of Medicare premiums automatically deducted from checks, and the amount of work required to earn Social Security credits.

Understanding these changes is not merely academic. For retirees already receiving benefits, the net effect of the 2026 cost-of-living adjustment versus the rise in Medicare Part B premiums determines how much actual purchasing power they gain or lose this year.

For near-retirees deciding when to claim Social Security, the finalized full retirement age of 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later is a landmark development that affects the permanent size of their monthly benefit for the rest of their lives. And for workers still decades from retirement, changes to the taxable wage base and Social Security credit earnings requirements establish the rules under which their future benefits will be calculated.

Whether you are currently receiving Social Security retirement benefits, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or survivor benefits — or whether you are a financial advisor, retirement income planner, or estate planning professional helping clients navigate these changes — this article covers all six of the most important Social Security changes of 2026 with the factual detail and financial planning context needed to make well-informed decisions.

Here is what has changed, what it means in real dollar terms, and what you should consider doing about it.