Q&A | 2026 Social Security COLA FAQs *Updated*

FAQ 1 | When is the social security 2026 COLA going to be announced?

Normally, we have the next year's COLA at this point. For instance, the 2025 COLA was announced on October 10 2024, and the announcement for 2024 was on October 12th of the prior year. According to news outlets, the government shutdown has delayed the release of the 2025 Q3 Consumer Price Index inflation data until October 24th. This data is used to determine the COLA for Social Security and other programs. The Social Security Administration is reportedly prepared to release the Social Security COLA on the same day. We will watch diligently and let blog readers know as soon as the announcement is made. 

FAQ 2 | What if social security recipients cannot get SS benefit letters because of the shutdown?

Many report that benefit letters are not available due to the shutdown, and it is unclear if data in SSA.gov accounts will be updated. Of course, there are always times when older benefit letters are gathered from families before the COLA announcement, and then the announcement is made. The tried-and-true response has been to use the old benefit letters and add the announced COLA. Similarly, during the pandemic, HUD allowed several years where old letters could be used, with an adjustment for the COLA. This process of adding the announced COLA to the most recent avaiable benefit documentation may be necessary for a time if 2026 benefit letters or SSA.gov printouts are not available or are not updated with the new COLA.  

For HUD properties that have implemented streamlining procedures under the FAST Act, income at recertification may be verified by adding the COLA to past gathered documentation. In these cases, verification is not required, truly streamlining the process for HUD projects. A few states apply streamlining for LIHTC purposes, so this can help for properties that are doing LIHTC income recertifications because they are less than 100% LIHTC.  

*UPDATE* Information Ordered by Phone [added 10-22-2025]

One of our intrepid application processors at the Costello companies investigated this issue and discovered a method that is still effective in verifying Social Security income. Thank you, Sarah! We have tested it and it continues to be effective, even during the shutdown. It takes a little longer than documents supplied by the household that they possess, but it works when the family does not have the most recent benefit letter or for recertifications, where time is not as urgent. 

Social Security recipients can request and receive a benefit verification letter by calling the Social Security Administration directly and requesting the proof of income letter. Translation services are available by accessing the teleprompt when prompted. The toll-free number is (800) 772-1213. They will speak their information into the phone. The letter will be mailed in 7-10 business days. Letters came sooner in some of our tests.