Social Security's 2026 COLA News May Be Delayed. Here's What Retirees Need to Know.

The federal government has officially shut down for the first time since December 2018. Congress failed to approve a spending bill before fiscal 2026, which began on Oct. 1. How the funding lapse impacts the economy depends on its duration. Hundreds of thousands of federal workers will miss paychecks, certain services could be halted, and some federal payments may be delayed.Additionally, the Labor Department said economic data scheduled for release during the shutdown will not be available. That could sink the stock market. Investors will miss a key jobs report on Oct. 3, the timing of which was consequential because the labor market has recently shown signs of weakness due to tariffs. Investors may also miss an inflation report on Oct. 15.The Social Security Administration also needs that inflation report to determine the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2026. How much benefits increase next year depends on how much consumer prices increased between July and September. Without that data, retired workers will be left in the dark concerning the 2026 COLA. Read on to learn more.Continue readingWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei MotleyFool Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei MotleyFool