On the plus side, these increases are automatic, and recipients don't have to take any action as the higher amounts will start to appear in January 2026 benefit payments. Unfortunately, the methodology that has helped determine these increases has been in place since 1975 as part of the CPI-W. While designed to protect beneficiaries from inflation, it also only measures increases from the third quarter of 2024 against the third quarter of 2025. This said, in 2023, when inflation spiked, the COLA did spike t ...