News
Social Security news
Curated daily from official SSA channels and trusted independent sources. Each item links out to the original.
Articles
Is Social Security Taxable? How Your Benefits Are Taxed
Social Security can be federally taxable, but most people pay tax on only part of their benefits — and many pay nothing. Whether yours are taxed depends on your “combined income.” Here are the 2026 thresholds.
Social Security and Medicare: How the Two Programs Work Together
Medicare is separate from Social Security, but tightly linked: you sign up through SSA, and your Part B premium comes out of your Social Security check. Here are the parts, the enrollment window, and the penalty for waiting.
How Your Social Security Benefit Is Calculated
Your benefit is based on your highest 35 years of earnings, indexed for wage growth and run through the PIA formula. Here is each step — AIME, the 2026 bend points, and a worked example.
2026 COLA Increase Explained: What the 2.8% Adjustment Means for Your Benefits
The Social Security cost-of-living adjustment for 2026 is 2.8%. Here is how it is calculated, what it means for your monthly check, and when you will see it.
Understanding This Year’s Cost-of-Living Adjustment
The annual cost-of-living adjustment is now reflected in monthly benefits. Here is how the COLA is calculated and what the increase means for your payment.
OIG Report Examines Improper Payment Recovery Efforts
The Office of the Inspector General released findings on the agency’s progress recovering overpayments and reducing improper payments.
Analysis: Trust Fund Projections and the Path to Solvency
A new analysis reviews the latest Trustees Report projections and outlines the trade-offs among proposals to extend trust fund solvency.
Lawmakers Weigh New Social Security Legislation
Several bills affecting benefits, the payroll tax cap, and program administration are under consideration. Here is what is moving on Capitol Hill.
Medicare Part B Premiums: What to Expect This Year
A look at this year’s Medicare Part B premium and deductible changes and how they interact with Social Security’s COLA.
Public Opinion Survey: Americans’ Views on Social Security
A national survey finds broad, bipartisan support for preserving and strengthening Social Security benefits.