• The Impending COLA Announcement and Its Importance

• The Government Shutdown's Ripple Effect on Key Data

• Historical Precedent and Analyst Insights

• Projected Increase and Its Impact on Seniors' Budgets

• How COLA Works and Why It's Critical

• Assurances Amid Uncertainty: Payments Continue

• Conclusion: Awaiting Clarity for Financial Planning

For tens of millions of American seniors, mid-October typically brings crucial news: the official announcement of the following year's Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). This key figure determines how much their monthly benefits will increase to keep pace with inflation. However, this year's anticipated reveal on October 15th faces potential disruption due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, creating an anxious waiting game for retirees dependent on these checks.

The process is normally straightforward. The Social Security Administration (SSA) schedules its COLA announcement to coincide with the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) release of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for September. The COLA is calculated based on the average CPI-W (Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers) from the third quarter of the current year compared to the previous year. Without this specific inflation report from the BLS, the SSA cannot perform the necessary calculation.

The current government shutdown has furloughed most BLS employees, throwing the publication schedule for critical economic reports, including the September inflation update, into doubt. This logistical paralysis means the Social Security Administration may be forced to delay its COLA announcement, as confirmed by reports from USA Today. The only previous delay in the COLA announcement occurred in October 2013 during a prior government shutdown, setting a concerning precedent.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the announcement, experts and officials emphasize one critical point: Social Security payments themselves will continue without interruption. The funding for Social Security benefits is mandatory and not subject to the annual congressional appropriations process that caused the shutdown. Retirees will receive their checks on the usual schedule; the delay pertains solely to the announcement of the 2026 increase, not the disbursement of current benefits.

Policy analyst Mary Johnson offered a measure of reassurance, telling USA Today, "A government shutdown could potentially delay an announcement of the COLA, but remember, the data is for September and that has already been collected." This indicates that while the bureaucratic process of calculating and announcing the figure may be stalled, the underlying economic data is already compiled, awaiting analysis once federal operations resume.

The Senior Citizens League (TSCL), a nonpartisan advocacy group, projected last month that the 2026 COLA would be approximately 2.7%. This estimate, while not official, provides a benchmark for seniors planning their budgets. A 2.7% increase would raise the average monthly benefit for retired workers from about $2,008 to $2,062, representing an average increase of $54 per month. This adjustment is vital for helping fixed-income seniors manage rising costs for essentials like groceries, housing, and healthcare.

The COLA mechanism is the fundamental safeguard embedded in Social Security to prevent inflation from eroding the purchasing power of benefits over time. Last year's adjustment for 2025 was 2.5%, reflecting the moderating but persistent inflation environment. The annual COLA is not a bonus but a necessary correction to maintain economic stability for a vulnerable population.

As the situation in Washington remains unresolved, seniors are left in a holding pattern. While their immediate cash flow is secure, the ability to plan for the coming year hinges on knowing the exact size of their benefit adjustment. The potential delay underscores the tangible impact of federal budget impasses on everyday American lives, forcing millions to wait for a number that directly affects their financial security and peace of mind.

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Фирма бывшего дорожного чиновника Архангельской области получит почти 5 млрд рублей по госконтракту...на дороги Поморья.>>Федеральное казенное учреждение «Управление автомобильной магистрали Москва - Архангельск Федерального дорожного агентства» 26 мая 2025 года подписало контракт на содержание участков автодороги М-8 "Холмогоры" Москва - Ярославль - Вологда - Архангельск сроком до 30.06.2027 года.>>Стоимость контракта - 4 932 306 263 рубля.>>Победитель - ООО "АВТОДОРОГИ", чьим владельцем является Беляев Владимир Дмитриевич и, вероятно, его сын или иной родственник - Беляев Павел Владимирович (он же директор фирмы).>>ООО в целом наколотило на госконтрактах 112,3 млрд рублей. Его "дочернее" ООО "Автодороги Вытегра" - более 5,5 млрд рублей, а ООО "Дорсервис", где "Автодороги Вытегра" имеют долю, - 3,4 млрд рублей. Кроме того, ООО "Севердорстрой", что принадлежит Дмитрию Владимировичу Беляеву (еще одному родственнику), наколотило на госконтрактах - 7,6 млрд рублей. Еще одна "дочка" ООО "АВТОДОРОГИ" - ООО "Помордорстрой" из бюджета зачерпнуло уже 1,69 млрд рублей.>>И это не полный перечень пирамиды Беляевых, активно запустивших руку в бюджетные контракты.>>Вишенка на этом торте в том, что Владимир Беляев - это бывший директор федерального государственного учреждения ДЭП 211, которое, как водится, потом было акционировано. Среди учредителей ФГУ был и Росавтодор, чьё подразделение сейчас подмахивает контракты беляевским фирмам. Кроме того, Беляев - бывший начальник отдела транспортного строительства департамента промышленности транспорта и связи администрации Архангельской области.

Автор: Иван Харитонов