COLAs and Retirement: What You Really Need to Know | Raleigh News

Social Security COLAs are designed to protect your buying power against inflation—not to make you rich. They’re calculated using the CPI-W, which tracks urban consumer prices, but critics argue it doesn’t fully reflect seniors’ rising healthcare costs. While a bigger COLA means higher checks, it often signals steep price hikes; a smaller one might mean your expenses haven’t surged as much. Plus, the “hold harmless” rule ensures your benefits never shrink year-over-year. But COLAs alone won’t secure your retirement—pair them with smart investments to truly beat inflation and future-proof your finances. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/0581c53402285824