The Social Security cost-of-living increase will go up by 2.8% in 2026, which translates to an average increase of more than $56 for retirees every month, agency officials said Friday. The benefits increase for nearly 71 million Social Security recipients will go into effect beginning in January.

Inflation ticked up again in September. Price gains were led by increases in the cost of gasoline. See what other costs went up and down.

As the government shutdown drags on, some Social Security employees working without pay are being denied their requests for “episodic telework,” and instead facing “AWOL” notices, says the American Federation of Government Employees.

Scam texts, letters, and emails are claiming to be certificates from U.S. Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor and John Roberts that “urges individuals to cooperate with the named SSA official, pressuring them to send money or share personal information,” according to a statement released by the OIG.

Social Security employees were crying in the office under the Department of Government Efficiency’s leadership, according to a former chief executive at the SSA.