Social Security benefits are a crucial financial support for nearly 57 million retirees in the United States. To combat inflation, the program implements an annual Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA), which is calculated using the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). This index focuses on households primarily earning from clerical or hourly work, covering about 29% of the population, compared to the broader CPI-U, which includes 93%. The COLA is determined by averaging CPI-W data from the third quarter of the current year and comparing it to the previous year's figures. While benefits are adjusted upward, they cannot be reduced, even if inflation rates drop, a policy that has remained consistent since 2010. However, increases in Medicare Part B premiums can diminish the actual benefit increase retirees see. According to The Senior Citizens League, benefits have lost 20% of their purchasing power since 2010, meaning that $100 in 2010 now equates to only $80 in purchasing power today. This ongoing issue raises questions about the adequacy of the COLA system and potential alternatives, such as using the Consumer Price Index for the elderly (CPI-E).