Retirement Social Security

If Your Social Security Check Is $1,850, Here’s How Much More You’ll Get in 2026

See how 2026 Social Security changes impact a $1,850 benefit.

By Katy Willis

Edited by Laura Hohenstein

Updated Dec. 16, 2025

If your Social Security deposit is around $1,850 and it's a significant part of your income, any changes can be worrying. After all, it's likely what you use for rent, groceries, and prescriptions.

The cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2026 is set at 2.8%, so your gross benefit amount will increase. But you probably won't see that full amount deposited into your bank account.

Higher Medicare premiums and tax withholding can claw back a big slice of that raise. Knowing your exact benefit amount, both gross and net, lets you stay on top of your finances for a stress-free retirement.

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How the 2026 COLA changes a $1,850 check

The 2026 COLA of 2.8% applies to Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. It's tied to inflation and designed to protect your purchasing power.

If you get $1,850 now, your gross benefit amount will rise to around $1,901.80. That's a total increase of $51.80 per month, or $621.60 per year.

The average retiree gets an extra $56 per month. That's because the average Social Security benefit in 2025 is $2,015, so the 2.8% COLA is applied to a larger base benefit. That raises the average retiree's gross benefit to around $2,071 in 2026.

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How much Medicare can eat from your raise

Medicare is the primary reason your gross benefit amount won't be the same as the net deposit that makes it to your bank account. Most retirees have their Medicare Part B premium taken straight from their benefits.

In 2025, the standard Part B premium is $185 per month. But in 2026, it's jumping to $202.90. That's a $17.90 increase. That might not sound like a lot until you realize that it's around 30% of your COLA increase if you're only getting an extra $51.80 per month.

You can see that even though your gross benefit went up, your net raise after Part B is only about $33.90. And, if you end up paying bigger Part B and Part D premiums because of higher income-related surcharges, you could lose even more.

How taxes and withholding shrink your increase

On top of Medicare, federal income tax can also cut into your raise. Social Security benefits can be taxable depending on your combined income. That's your adjusted gross income, plus nontaxable interest and half of your Social Security.

Here are the limits for single filers:

Combined income above $25,000 = up to 50% of your benefits can be taxable
Combined income above $34,000 = up to 85% of your benefits can be taxable

Here are the limits for joint filers:

Combined income above $32,000 = up to 50% of your benefits can be taxable
Combined income above $44,000 = up to 85% of your benefits can be taxable

You can have the Social Security Administration withhold federal tax from your check, ranging from 7% to 22%. This amount will be deducted from your gross benefit, so you'll see a smaller net deposit here, too. But this is voluntary, and you can adjust or remove the amount of withholding at any time.

On a $1,901.80 benefit (the amount you'll get in January if you were previously getting $1,850), if you've set your withholding at 10%, you'll have approximately $190 less per month. Combine that with the Medicare Part B premium of $202.90, and your net deposit falls to $1,508.72.

Your gross raise would be $51.80, but with 10% voluntary withholding and the increased Medicare premium, your net raise would only be around $28.72.

This is why it's so important that you check your COLA notice and look at both the gross and net amounts. If you assume you'll get the full gross amount, it could derail your budget and leave you in a fix.

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How to check your benefit amount

$1,850 is just an example and is a little below the 2025 average benefit of $2,015. Before you plan your budget for the coming year or make any significant financial decisions, you need to know your own numbers.

Start by logging in to your "my Social Security" account. Check your COLA notice. Look at the gross benefit amount to make sure it looks about right. If it's off, check your earnings record to make sure all of your top 35-earning years are accounted for correctly.

Next, look at your deductions. If you've got income-related monthly-adjustment amount (IRMAA) surcharges, these will eat a larger chunk of your benefit. And, if you've had a significant life event, like a divorce or retirement, that has reduced your income, you can ask for this charge to be removed or reduced.

You'll also see Medicare Part B and maybe Part D deductions, along with any voluntary tax withholdings. Under these line items, you should see your net deposit, which is the amount that will actually hit your account.

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Bottom line

Whatever the size of your Social Security check, it's getting a 2.8% increase in 2026. You'll see the first larger deposit in January 2026, or December 31, 2025, for SSI recipients. But your net deposit likely won't reflect that whole increase. Medicare and taxes can take a big chunk out of your benefit.

While the average benefit for 2026 is around $2,071, it's important to know your own numbers, including your gross check, deductions, and net deposit. Before January arrives, check your COLA notice and plan your budget around your net deposit. Then, revisit your budget and make sure it aligns with your net deposit amount to avoid making any money mistakes.

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