But when we look back at the data, it becomes clear that a 2.5% Social Security COLA isn't so terrible. In fact, it's a lot more generous than some of the COLAs beneficiaries have seen in the past. In 2024, Social Security benefits rose by 3.2%. The year prior, they increased by 8.7%. And in 2022, a 5.9% COLA came through.

Social Security beneficiaries will soon experience a welcome change when benefits climb due to a cost-of-living adjustment.

Social Security's upcoming cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is the smallest (by far) to arrive in years. And it's natural to be disappointed by a meager increase in your monthly checks. But when we look back at the data,

David Bowie might not want to be a richer man, but most of us would like to be richer, and annual Social Security-related changes can help, to a modest degree. Here are some important things to know about Social Security changes for 2025.