Retirement Social Security

If Your Social Security Check Is $2,300, Here’s How Much More You’ll Get in 2026

What the 2.8% COLA adds to your $2,300 check after deductions.

By David Maina

Edited by Andrea Basse

Updated Dec. 22, 2025

A $2,300 Social Security check puts you in a relatively strong position, whether you're planning for retirement or have already stepped away from work.

For many households, that amount can cover core expenses like housing, groceries, utilities, and health care, with some room left for day-to-day flexibility.

That check is expected to increase in 2026. A 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) would raise benefits across the board, including yours. It's not a life-changing jump, but it matters at a time when prices still feel high.

Below, we break down exactly how much our $2,300 check increases in 2026 and what that raise actually means for your spending power after deductions.

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The real dollar impact of the 2026 COLA on a $2,300 check

A 2.8% COLA on a $2,300 monthly check adds about $64 per month. That lifts your benefit to roughly $2,364 before any deductions, and over the full year, the increase totals about $770.

For comparison, the Social Security Administration estimates the average retirement benefit (around $2,015 before the COLA) will rise by about $56 per month in 2026.

This COLA is bigger than last year's 2.5% increase, but far smaller than the spikes in 2022 and 2023, when inflation surged. Still, it matters. Social Security provides at least half of the income for millions of retirees, and this raise helps offset higher prices for basics like food, utilities, and everyday household costs.

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Where part of your Social Security raise quietly goes

Even though your Social Security benefit is rising by 2.8%, you may not see that full increase in your monthly deposit.

Most retirees have Medicare Part B premiums automatically taken out of their Social Security checks. In 2026, those premiums are expected to rise by about 9.7%. The standard Part B premium is increasing from $185.00 in 2025 to $202.90 in 2026, a jump of $17.90 per month.

Here's how that plays out in practice:

Gross COLA increase on a $2,300 check: about $64 per month
Higher Part B premium: about $18 per month
Net increase in your deposit: roughly $46 per month

Other deductions can also affect your net deposit. If you have federal income tax withheld from your Social Security, that amount may rise slightly with your higher benefit.

The same goes for premiums from Medicare Advantage (Part C) or Part D prescription drug plans if those are deducted directly from your check.

In simple terms, COLAs raise your gross benefit, but automatic deductions determine what you actually take home. Checking those deductions now can help you avoid surprises when your January deposit arrives.

When your higher Social Security payment actually arrives

For most beneficiaries, the 2026 COLA shows up in January. The 2.8% increase applies to benefits paid out that month, but the exact date depends on your usual Social Security payment schedule.

If you receive Social Security and started benefits after 1997, your January 2026 payment will arrive on your usual Wednesday, based on your birth date:

Born on the 1st to 10th: Your January payment arrives on Wednesday, January 14
Born on the 11th to 20th: Your payment arrives on Wednesday, January 21
Born on the 21st to 31st: Your payment arrives on Wednesday, January 28

If you started receiving benefits before May 1997, or if you receive both Social Security and SSI, your payment will arrive earlier in the month on the 3rd.

SSI works a bit differently. Payments are usually made on the 1st of the month, but if that date falls on a weekend or federal holiday, payment is sent the prior business day.

Because January 1, 2026, is a federal holiday, your January SSI payment will arrive on December 31, 2025, which will be the first payment that includes the 2.8% COLA.

Social Security began sending official COLA notices in early December. If you have a my Social Security online account, you can usually view your COLA notice there before the paper letter arrives.

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How to put your 2026 Social Security raise to better use

A Social Security raise is a good moment to reassess your budget. Even a small increase can make a difference if it's used deliberately.

With about $64 more per month, decide where that money should go. Many retirees feel inflation most in everyday expenses like groceries, utilities, or transportation, so applying the increase to one of those costs can help right away.

Another smart move is building a small cushion. Setting aside even part of the COLA creates a buffer for car repairs, medical copays, or surprise bills.

If your basics already feel stable, consider using the extra money to pay down high-interest debt. Credit cards and personal loans drain cash every month, and reducing those balances improves your budget long after the COLA is spent.

Bottom line

A $2,300 Social Security check already puts you ahead of the average retiree, and in 2026, that higher base means your COLA adds more dollars than many others will see.

But once higher Medicare premiums, inflation, and other deductions take their share, the increase may feel more modest than the headline number suggests.

That makes it worth slowing down and using it thoughtfully. When prices remain uncertain, taking steps to avoid money mistakes can be just as important as the extra dollars in your check.

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