The 10 States Where Retirees Will See the Largest Raises
The COLA percentage is the same for everyone across the U.S., but retirees in some states will see bigger dollar increases because they already have higher average benefit amounts.
That’s due to differences in average lifetime earnings, state wage levels, and workforce participation. In 2026, retirees in the following 10 states are expected to see the largest Social Security benefit raises in dollar terms:
- New Jersey
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- New York
- California
- Virginia
- Washington
- Colorado
These states tend to have retirees who earned higher wages during their working years, resulting in larger base benefits — and therefore, larger COLA increases in pure dollars.
For example, a retiree in New Jersey receiving $2,400 per month could see their benefit rise by about $65 per month, while someone in Mississippi with a $1,600 monthly benefit might only see a $43 increase.
