4 Big Social Security Changes Happening in 2026

There’s a reason retired Americans tend to check for Social Security news during the year. Given that many retirees end up relying heavily on those monthly benefit for income, it’s common for seniors to search for clues about their upcoming cost-of-living adjustments, or COLAs.

In 2025, Social Security recipients had to wait longer than usual to find out what their 2026 COLA would amount to. The Social Security Administration was initially set to release an official number on Oct. 15. But then the government shut down.

Due to the shutdown, a key inflation report was delayed, which caused a delay in an official COLA announcement. It wasn’t until Oct. 24 that seniors would learn of their upcoming 2.8% COLA for 2026.

But while 2026’s COLA may have hogged the Social Security spotlight these past few months, that’s not the only change that’s on tap for the program in the new year. Here are four more big changes you need to pay attention to — and that includes people who aren’t yet collecting monthly .

You may not be familiar with Social Security’s earnings test if you don’t work and receive benefits at the same time. But for people who collect benefits before reaching full retirement age, there’s a limited amount of income they can earn before risking having benefits withheld.

In 2026, the earnings-test limits are rising, allowing seniors to earn more money before having benefits withheld. If you work and collect Social Security in 2026, you can earn up to $24,480 without having benefits withheld — up from $23,400 in 2025. From there, you’ll have $1 in Social Security withheld per $2 of earnings.

The earnings-test limit will also be much higher next year if you’ll be reaching full retirement age at some point in 2026. It’s increasing from $62,160 to $65,160. Beyond that point, you’ll have $1 in Social Security withheld per $3 of earnings.

Withheld benefits, for the record, are repaid in the form of larger monthly checks once full retirement age arrives. But remember, claiming Social Security before full retirement age reduces monthly benefits for life — regardless of whether you work or not.

Social Security has a maximum monthly benefit retirees can collect. This year, the highest benefit available at full retirement age is $4,018. Next year, it’s rising to $4,152.