Today, the Social Security Administration announced the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2026: a whopping 2.8%. That works out to about $56 extra a month for the average retiree.

Now, I’m not knocking an increase. Every bit helps when folks are trying to stretch a fixed income in today’s economy. But calling this a “boost” feels a little like calling a leaky umbrella “rain protection.” Technically true, but you’re still getting soaked.

Inflation may have cooled down somewhat, but it’s still relatively high at 3%. This means that prices are still going up faster than these tiny COLA adjustments. The government’s inflation formula (called CPI-W) is based on the spending of working adults, not retirees. So, it doesn’t even measure the right things. That’s like using a teenager’s diet to plan meals for a nursing home.

And just wait, Medicare premiums are set to rise again in 2026, which means a lot of that “raise” will disappear before most people even see it. It’s like your boss giving you a bonus and your landlord raising your rent the next day.

Here’s the bigger problem: both political parties have been dodging the hard questions about Social Security for decades. Democrats like to promise more benefits without explaining how to pay for them. Republicans talk about reform but rarely stick their necks out to make real changes. Meanwhile, the trust fund keeps marching toward insolvency, projected to run short within about ten years.

It’s time to get serious. Protect the people who already depend on Social Security. They earned it. But fix the system so it’s still around for future generations. That means honesty, math that actually adds up, and a little less political theater.