Cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) are a crucial part of the Social Security benefits program. A new report shows that COLAs are letting seniors down more often than not. The report says 69% of COLAs over the last 25 years fell short of what they should have been.

Social Security’s cost-of-living adjustment will be 2.8% in 2026, up from 2.5% this year, the Social Security Administration said on Friday.