Increase in Social Security Payments Undercut by Greater Medicare Deduction
Snippet of Article: "...The 2026 social security Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) is 2.8% which provides those receiving the most money from social security with more money compared to those receiving less. According to the Times report, the 2025 monthly social security payment provided to the average retired worker is $2,008/month. With the COLA, this retired worker will be receiving $2,064/month in 2026, $56 more.
However, the 2.8% COLA is accompanied by a 9.7% increase of $17.90 in the Medicare deduction to $202.90 that is taken from one’s social security payment and, essentially, reduces the average retired worker’s social security COLA of $56 to $38.10, which can be viewed as making the actual social security COLA 1.9%. ..."