What Else Is Changing in 2026
It’s not just COLA on the horizon. Several other Social Security rules will adjust in 2026, and they could affect you directly:
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Full Retirement Age (FRA). For anyone born in 1960 or later, the FRA is now 67. That means if you claim earlier, your benefits will be reduced more steeply.
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Taxable Wage Base. Workers still paying into the system will see a higher cap on taxable income, expected to reach $183,600 in 2026. That means higher earners will contribute more.
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Earnings Limit. If you claim benefits before FRA and keep working, there’s a limit on how much you can earn without penalties. That limit will rise in 2026.
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Work Credits. The amount you need to earn to get one work credit (needed to qualify for Social Security) will also go up.
These changes matter for people still working and planning when to file.
On the next page, you’ll find tips on what retirees can do to prepare.
