Here’s Why Your 2.8% Social Security Raise Feels Like a Pay Cut

The letters arrived in December, and the deposits are landing this month. On paper, the news looks positive: Social Security benefits increased by 2.8% for 2026. For the average retiree, that translates to about $56 more per month. But if you have visited the grocery store or paid a utility bill in the last couple of weeks, you probably noticed that this raise hasn’t changed your financial…