Many retirees look forward to Social Security's annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), which for 2025 is 2.5%. The COLA technically takes effect in December, with beneficiaries seeing updated payments in January.

The Social Security cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, for 2025 is a 2.5% increase. That means the monthly benefits checks for more than 72.5 million Americans will see their lowest annual bump in four years.

One of the most important aspects of Social Security is that recipients are eligible for a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) every year. These annual increases are designed to help seniors and those receiving Social Security benefits keep up with inflation.

Social Security's 2025 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) took effect in January. Benefits will increase 2.5% this year, the smallest pay bump for seniors since 2021. Indeed, more than half of retired workers surveyed by The Motley Fool in October said the COLA was insufficient.

The vast majority of seniors surveyed about Social Security's COLA say the number should be as much as five times higher than the government is forking over this year.

As inflation begins to cool, the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2025 has been set at 2.5%. This increase, although modest compared to the previous years, is a crucial lifeline for retirees,

Technically speaking, this is the 2024 COLA, as it goes into effect in December 2024. However, because Social Security is paid a month in arrears, this increase will be reflected in the payment that beneficiaries receive in January. For this reason, it is often referred to as the 2025 COLA.