With the holiday season upon us, it’s a time for gratitude and celebration — especially for the 2025 Social Security COLA.

We here at NORA thank everyone, especially our own great readers, for helping to make this increase happen. It’s a boost that seniors had coming, and it’s a fine start for the future.

But the future of cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) needs to move on an upward trajectory. Record increases should be the new norm, since record inflation seems to be sticking around. Given how tough the economy is at the moment, it begs the question — were seniors shorted on the 2025 Social Security COLA?

Is the Current Boost to Benefits Really Enough for Retirees?

While a 2.5 percent increase is higher than some past years’ increases, it’s a different time.

Prices continue to climb, and the coming year could see more of this trend. Though there are ways seniors can maximize this increase to get more out of it, it can only go so far.

Should the number have been higher, like it was in the past couple of years? Many people think so. Some say given how inflation is climbing fast every quarter, the boost should’ve been optimized for where prices could be this time next year, rather than just early in the new year. There’s also the matter of this increase being reduced by unforeseen expenses.

If inflation cools, the current COLA may prove sufficient for some seniors. But all seniors deserve a comfortable retirement no matter the state of the economy. After all, we’ve all paid in and we all deserve to be paid back.

Help Us Keep COLAS Moving in the Right Direction

The COLA for 2025 isn’t the number seniors deserved. But it’s all about long-term results when it comes to retirement planning. Will you help us make sure seniors never feel shorted by a benefit boost ever again?

We at NORA work hard to make sure retirees get the Social Security increases they deserve. Learn about our efforts here, then follow us on Facebook and Twitter to strengthen the collective voice of retirees and future retirees.