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.

Back to Medicare now. Retirees commonly have their Medicare Part B premiums automatically taken from their Social Security benefits. For 2024, that monthly sum is $174.70. The 2025 sum isn't known at the time of this writing, but it's projected by some to rise to $185 for 2025.

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,