According the the AARP, the 2.5% COLA adjustment introduced this year boosted the average Social Security retiree's payment by about $49 a month. The average monthly Social Security check for all beneficiaries was $1,861 in June 2025 and $2,005 for retired workers, according to the Senior Citizens League.

Social Security recipients’ will likely get more money next year with cost-of-living adjustments, but the increase may not cover the full effects of rising inflation.