OPINION:
On the heels of the 2026 Nationwide Retirement Institute Survey, which found that 74% of Social Security recipients have modified their finances as inflation outpaced benefit gains, the Senior Citizens League is projecting a cost of living adjustment (COLA) of 3.5%.
That is the highest it has been in four years. It is expected to bump up the average monthly benefit by $68, bringing the average recipient’s benefit over the $2,000 threshold.
Stretching seniors’ monthly budgets during an inflation hangover from President Biden’s reckless spending is a good idea. But a fairer, far more practical move by the Social Security Administration would be allowing married couples filing jointly to combine their individual earning allowances of $24,800 per person to $49,600 for a joint tax return before a punitive 50% tax over the $24,800 threshold kicks in.
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Most married senior couples have worked as teams for years, raising families and contributing to society. This modification would give them greater flexibility so they can take advantage of the $49,600 limit before being penalized by a confiscatory tax that takes the incentive out of earning income that would improve their quality of life.
This should be considered an amendment to the One Big Beautiful Bill and should be passed immediately.
LUANA DUNN
Glen Burnie, Maryland
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