The 2025 Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) came in at just 2.5%. For years, groups like The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) have been calling for changes to the way the government calculates COLAs,

With a little more than a month before the 2025 COLA kicks in, here's what you should know about the upcoming adjustment.

Those born between the 1st and 10th of any date will be paid on the first wednesday of the month. The SSA pays those with birthdays between the 11th and 20th second wednesday, and all the remaining beneficiaries on the third wednesday of the month.

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.

With fewer Part D plans and a $2,000 out-of-pocket cap, beneficiaries must rethink their Medicare drug coverage for 2025. Medicare expert Jae Oh shares what’s new and how to adjust.

Last month, the Social Security Administration announced that beneficiaries will receive a 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in 2025. In fact, a recent survey conducted by The Motley Fool found that 54% of retired workers believe the 2025 COLA is insufficient.

USA TODAY reached out to retirees across the country who are living mostly on Social Security, to ask how they were doing.