The Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has warned that fraudsters are contacting people and claiming they must pay a fee, or hand over personal details, to “activate” their cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). There’s no such step. As the OIG puts it: “Social Security beneficiaries do not need to register, apply, or activate the increase; the COLA is automatic.”
How the scam works
Scammers reach out by phone, text, email, social media or even postal mail. They pretend to be from SSA or another federal agency and say something like:
- “Your 2027 increase is on hold until you verify your account.”
- “Pay a small processing fee to unlock your COLA.”
- “Confirm your Social Security number and bank details to receive the raise.”
They often use real-sounding names, official logos and even fake ID badges. The OIG has also warned about impostors using the names of real SSA employees.
This kind of fraud is common. The OIG says 81% of the complaints it received between April and June 2026 involved someone pretending to represent SSA or the OIG itself.
Remember the “Four Ps”
SSA and federal officials use a simple checklist to spot impostor scams:
- Pretend: They claim to be from SSA or another government agency. SSA won’t contact you out of the blue unless you’ve already been in touch.
- Problem or prize: They invent an urgent problem with your benefits, threaten arrest, or say you’ve won something you never entered.
- Pressure: They push you to act right now, often so you don’t have time to talk to family or check.
- Payment: They ask for gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers or cash. SSA will never charge you to receive a COLA.
What’s actually happening with your raise
- SSI: the higher payment arrives on December 31, 2026.
- Social Security: the increase shows up in your January 2027 payment.
- Your notice: if you have a my Social Security account and signed up for paperless notices by November 18, you can see your COLA notice online from late November. Otherwise it comes by mail in December.
You don’t need to do anything to get it.
How to check safely
- Type ssa.gov/myaccount into your browser yourself. Don’t click links in messages.
- Real SSA emails come from addresses ending in .gov, but scammers can fake those too, so don’t rely on that alone.
- If you’re unsure, call SSA at 1-800-772-1213, using the number you looked up yourself.
If you’ve been contacted
- Hang up or don’t reply.
- Don’t share your Social Security number, bank details or passwords.
- Report it at ssa.gov/scam or call the OIG fraud hotline at 1-800-269-0271.
- Already paid or shared details? Contact your bank straight away, and report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Officials stress there’s no need to feel embarrassed. These scams are designed to fool people.
If you have older parents or neighbors on Social Security, a quick conversation about this could save them a lot of money.
Sources: SSA OIG warning via CubaHeadlines (October 22, 2026), WBIW (November 2, 2026) and SSA OIG scam alerts.
Jackson is a dedicated USA news writer, who covers important topics such as Social Security payment schedules, COLA increases, IRS tax refunds, stimulus payment announcements, Medicare eligibility, retirement benefits, and changes to state driving laws. His goal is to provide clear, informative, and easy-to-follow articles that help retirees, seniors, taxpayers, and American families stay informed.