Change cost-of-living adjustments to focus more on what older adults buy (thus increasing benefits)
Changing the way COLAs are calculated by focusing on the goods and services that older adults tend to buy, which would increase the shortfall by 12%
Arguments For & Against
Pro Argument
The whole idea of making cost of living adjustments is that Social Security recipients should not be hurt by inflation. The current system for calculating inflation does not really keep up with inflation for what seniors actually buy, thus reducing their purchasing power. The only fair thing to do is to change the method to reflect reality.
Con Argument
People can come up with all kinds of arguments for why this group or that group needs to get higher benefit payments. The reality we have to face is that Social Security is in trouble because it will not have the means to meet its obligations. We should be thinking of ways to reduce the shortfall, not make it worse by increasing the cost-of-living adjustment.
| Type | Organization | Date | Nat | Rep | Dem | Gap | Metric |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New PPC Survey (2026) | Program for Public Consultation | February 2026 | 70% | 70% | 73% | 3% | favor |
| Deliberative Survey | Program for Public Consultation | September 2024 | 68% | 70% | 67% | 3% | other |
Program for Public Consultation — February 2026
Here are some options for increasing Social Security benefits, which would increase the Social Security shortfall. For each, please select whether you favor or oppose… Change the formula used for calculating Social Security benefits so that it focuses more on what older adults buy, which would increase benefits for all retirees, and also increase the budget shortfall by 12%.
Program for Public Consultation — September 2024
Base annual COLAs on the inflation rate for a set of goods that reflect what elderly people tend to buy (increases shortfall by 12%)