COLA isn’t the big issue, but this Social Security number retirees must watch in 2026

Social Security’s 2026 wage base jumps to $184,500, reshaping retirement math beyond COLA headlines. This cap controls payroll taxes and future benefits. Earn below it, and lifetime payouts shrink. Hit it for 35 years, and monthly checks rise permanently. As inflation eases and global tensions grow, this single number could decide when Americans safely retire.