## Why This Year's Social Security Raise Still Leaves Retirees Short
The Social Security Administration recently announced a 2.8% cost of living increase for 2026, marking an improvement over 2025's modest 2.5% adjustment. Yet beneath this seemingly positive headline lies a persistent structural weakness that continues to disadvantage millions of seniors.
## The CPI-W Problem: A Mismatch by Design
The fundamental issue lies in how COLAs are calculated. Social Security adjustments are pegged to the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), an index designed to tr