Social Security Check Is $1800 : For millions of retirees, the annual Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) isn’t just a headline—it’s the backbone of their financial stability. And in 2026, a 2.8% COLA will reshape how much retirees receive each month. If your current benefit is $1,800, the numbers may look encouraging at first glance. But the story becomes more complicated once Medicare premiums, taxation, and inflation pressures come into play.

This expert breakdown walks you through gross increases, net take-home pay, Medicare deductions, and what your bank-deposited amount will actually look like in 2026. The goal is simple: empower you to budget accurately, avoid surprises, and make smarter retirement decisions.

Why the 2.8% Adjustment Matters More Than It Seems

A 2.8% COLA might appear modest, especially compared with recent post-pandemic spikes. But for retirees on fixed income, even small adjustments have long-term consequences. Social Security COLAs don’t just affect one year—they compound over decades of retirement.

For someone receiving $1,800 in 2025, a 2.8% increase represents more than a bump for the upcoming year; it sets a new baseline for all future COLAs.

How Inflation Data Directly Shapes Your 2026 Benefit

The Social Security Administration calculates COLA using the CPI-W (Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers). If average inflation rises in the third quarter, COLA rises with it. For retirees, this matters because the CPI-W doesn’t perfectly track senior spending habits (which skew heavily toward healthcare).
Still, for 2026, CPI-W readings were high enough to lock in a 2.8% adjustment, signaling steady but cooling inflation.

Gross Monthly and Annual Benefit Changes for a $1,800 Check

Monthly Increase Breakdown

Here’s the simple math:

• Base 2025 benefit: $1,800
• 2026 COLA: 2.8%
• Dollar increase: $50.40
• New 2026 gross monthly benefit: $1,850.40

This $50.40 increase is the number SSA promotes—but it’s not what reaches your bank account.

Annual Total After the COLA

Your new yearly gross benefit is:

• $1,850.40 × 12 = $22,204.80

That’s a $604.80 annual increase compared with your 2025 payments.

How This Compares to the Average Retiree Benefit in 2026

In 2025, the average retired worker receives $2,015 per month. With the 2026 COLA, the average will rise to about $2,071—a gain of $56. This means the average retiree sees an annual benefit of $24,852, up from $24,180.

Whether you’re above or below the national average helps determine how Medicare, taxes, and additional income may affect your net benefit.

Why Part B Premiums Are Rising to $202.90

Medicare Part B premiums increase when healthcare costs rise, especially expenses tied to outpatient services, physician fees, and prescription drugs administered in doctors’ offices.
For 2026, Medicare trustees project higher spending on:

• Physician-administered drugs
• Outpatient care
• Preventive services uptake
• Administrative and program integrity measures

This pushes the standard monthly Part B premium from $185 (2025) to $202.90 (2026)—a jump of $17.90.

What This Means for Your Net Social Security Payment

If you have Part B premiums deducted automatically (as most retirees do), your COLA increase is immediately reduced. For a $1,800 beneficiary:

• 2026 gross benefit: $1,850.40
• 2026 Part B premium: $202.90
• Net monthly benefit: $1,647.50

Side-by-Side Net Benefit Comparison: 2025 vs 2026

Year	Gross Benefit	Part B Premium	Net Deposit	Net Annual Total
2025	$1,800	$185.00	$1,615.00	$19,380
2026	$1,850.40	$202.90	$1,647.50	$19,770
Increase in actual deposit	—	—	$32.50 per month	$390 per year

Notice the difference:
Your gross benefit rises by $50.40, but your actual deposit rises by only about $32.50.

Net Take-Home for a Retiree With a $1,800 Base Benefit

Actual Deposit Amount After Part B Deductions

Most retirees only care about one number: the amount that lands in their checking account. In 2026, that number is $1,647.50 per month—not the $1,850.40 often cited in news articles.

Why Your Deposited Increase Is Smaller Than Your Gross Increase

Because Part B premiums consume roughly 35% of your COLA increase.
Out of your $50.40 COLA boost:

• $17.90 goes straight to Medicare
• Leaving only $32.50 as true take-home growth

Other Common Deductions That May Lower Net Pay Even Further

Some retirees will see even less than $1,647.50 due to:

• IRMAA surcharges (for higher-income retirees)
• Medicare Part D premiums
• Voluntary tax withholding
• Overpayment recovery (not common, but possible)
• Spousal/child support garnishments

If you pay for both Part B and Part D directly from your Social Security check, you might see half or more of the COLA wiped out.

Taxation of Social Security in 2026

How the IRS Calculates “Combined Income”

Your Social Security may be taxable depending on your combined income, defined as:

• ½ of your Social Security
• All other taxable income
• Any tax-exempt interest (e.g., municipal bonds)

When Your Benefits Become Taxable

Thresholds haven’t changed since 1984:

• Single filers
  • $25,000–34,000: up to 50% of benefits taxable
  • Above $34,000: up to 85% taxable
• Married filing jointly
  • $32,000–44,000: up to 50%
  • Above $44,000: up to 85%

Since these thresholds never adjust for inflation, more retirees are taxed each year, effectively shrinking the value of COLA increases.

Strategies Retirees Use to Reduce Tax Exposure

Consider discussing these options with an advisor:

• Roth conversions before RMD age
• Shifting withdrawals from taxable to tax-advantaged accounts
• Managing capital gains in low-income years
• Strategic use of qualified charitable distributions (QCDs)

Even moderate adjustments can reduce how much of your Social Security becomes taxable.

Budget Adjustments for Higher Medicare Costs

Smart retirees are already adjusting budgets for 2026:

• Reassessing medication and healthcare spending
• Reducing discretionary expenses early
• Evaluating Medicare Advantage plans that cap out-of-pocket costs
• Comparing Part D plans to reduce drug-related premiums

Smart Moves to Preserve Net Benefit Growth

A few targeted actions can help offset lost COLA value:

• Delay discretionary withdrawals from retirement accounts
• Review supplemental coverage for cost-efficiency
• Consider high-deductible Medicare Advantage plans if cash flow is tight
• Use annual COLA increases to pad an emergency fund

What to Watch for in 2027 COLA Predictions

Early projections suggest a COLA between 2.0% and 2.4% for 2027, depending on energy and healthcare inflation. A lower future COLA means planning in 2026 becomes even more important, especially for retirees whose medical costs rise faster than inflation.

Final Takeaway

Although your gross Social Security benefit rises from $1,800 to $1,850.40, the real increase hitting your bank account is closer to $32.50 per month after the 2026 Medicare Part B premium hike.
Understanding the moving pieces—COLA, Medicare costs, taxable benefits—is the key to planning a stable retirement budget.