Social Security COLA Announcement Delayed Amid Government Shutdown
The Social Security Administration postponed the 2026 cost-of-living adjustment announcement to a later date, citing the government shutdown’s impact on the Consumer Price Index release, CBS News reported. CNN noted that the Bureau of Labor Statistics began recalling staff to resume the CPI data release despite the shutdown, aiming to keep the data flow on schedule. The Motley Fool later echoed that the shutdown had delayed the BLS data release and consequently pushed back the COLA announcement.
CBS confirmed the postponement to a later date, while AP highlighted that the delay affected millions of beneficiaries. Fortune added that the shift complicated financial planning for retirees, and a subsequent Motley Fool piece reiterated the administration’s decision to defer the announcement. These reports collectively show that the shutdown disrupted the CPI schedule, forcing the Social Security Administration to move the COLA announcement to an unspecified later date.
