Understanding the 2026 COLA increase

The 2026 Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is 2.8 percent for Social Security benefits and SSI payments.

Social Security benefits will increase by 2.8 percent beginning with the December 2025 benefits, which are paid in January 2026.

Federal SSI payments will also increase by 2.8 percent effective for payments made for January 2026.

Let’s look at the cost-of-living increases since 1975.

For seniors on a fixed income, there may not be any obvious way to compensate for increases in Medicare, rent and other expenses you have no control over.

So let’s look at some ways we may be able to either reduce expenses or increase income, even if by $100 a month (or more).

Many seniors with limited mobility or reduced vision can still earn extra income each month through flexible, low-stress side gigs. The key is choosing work that can be done from home, at a comfortable pace, and with tools or platforms that are easy to navigate. Many companies now design their websites with accessibility features built in, making remote earning more practical than ever.

One option is telephone-based customer service or survey work, which relies mostly on conversation rather than computer use. Seniors with strong communication skills can earn steady income by answering customer questions, scheduling appointments, or sharing opinions for research studies.

Another great choice is mystery shopping phone calls. Many mystery shopping companies now offer jobs that are strictly phone or computer based. These might include opening bank accounts, opening credit card accounts, making phone calls for loan inquiries, apartment surveys, and more. These are completely legitimate companies and depending on your time, availability and abilities, it is not difficult to generate one-hundred dollars a month or more! Mystery shopping can feel like a lot of work to get started but once you have some experience, you can do quite well, even getting reimbursed for dinners, sports games, and hotels.

There are also opportunities to earn from hobbies or daily routines. Seniors can sell handmade crafts, vintage items, or collectibles through Ebay and other platforms.

Reducing monthly expenses!

Most people initially feel like they can’t reduce expenses, however they may be overlooking discounts on monthly utilities, phone and internet service and possibly even deffering property taxes! Contact your providers or check their websites for senior discounts or income-based discounts. Even a 10% discount on heating in the winter can add up to a lot!