Social Security COLA
Updated October 2026 · 2026 figures from the Social Security Administration and IRS
The 2027 Social Security COLA will be announced on October 14, 2026, and analysts expect about 3.4% to 3.6% — The Senior Citizens League estimates 3.5% (The Senior Citizens League). That would be the largest raise since 2023, after 2.8% for 2026. The increase starts with benefits paid in January 2027 (December 31, 2026 for SSI).
Below: a Social Security COLA calculator for your own check, how the COLA is worked out, the full history and why your net raise may be smaller because of Medicare.
Social Security COLA calculator
2027 COLA: what we know so far
| Official announcement | Wednesday, October 14, 2026, with the September consumer price index (NBC) |
|---|---|
| Latest estimates | 3.5% (The Senior Citizens League); 3.4% (independent analyst Mary Johnson) |
| Inflation so far | CPI-W up 3.4% in July and 3.5% in August 2026 from a year earlier (The Senior Citizens League) |
| First higher payment | January 2027 (benefit for December 2026); SSI on December 31, 2026 |
| Average retired worker | $2,071 in January 2026 (SSA 2026 COLA fact sheet) → about $2,143 with a 3.5% COLA |
Your official new amount appears in the COLA notice SSA posts in your my Social Security Message Center in early December and mails in December.
How the COLA is calculated
The Social Security COLA equals the percentage rise in the average Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) for July, August and September, compared with the same three months a year earlier. The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes the index; SSA applies the result automatically. If prices don't rise, there's no COLA, but benefits never go down.
- Average the CPI-W for July, August and September of this year.
- Divide it by last year's July–September average.
- Round the increase to the nearest 0.1% — that's the COLA.
Critics argue the CPI-W understates retirees' costs, because older people spend more on health care and housing. An alternative index for the elderly (CPI-E) has been proposed in Congress but isn't law.
Social Security COLA history
| Year paid | COLA |
|---|---|
| 2027 | To be announced Oct. 14, 2026 |
| 2026 | 2.8% |
| 2025 | 2.5% |
| 2024 | 3.2% |
| 2023 | 8.7% |
| 2022 | 5.9% |
| 2021 | 1.3% |
| 2020 | 1.6% |
| 2019 | 2.8% |
| 2018 | 2.0% |
| 2017 | 0.3% |
Source: SSA COLA history. The record was 14.3% in 1980; there was no COLA in 2010, 2011 or 2016.
Why your raise may be smaller: Medicare
If you're on Medicare, the Part B premium ($202.90 in 2026) comes out of your check, and the 2027 premium is usually announced in November. A higher premium eats part of the COLA. The "hold harmless" rule protects most people: your net benefit can't fall because of a Part B increase — but people with higher incomes paying IRMAA, new enrollees and those whose premium is paid by Medicaid aren't covered by it. See Medicare Part B costs.
What else changes with the COLA
- SSI payments rise by the same percentage — see SSI benefits.
- The earnings limit for people working while collecting and the taxable wage base are set the same day (they follow wages, not the COLA) — see the Social Security earnings limit and the Social Security tax rate.
- Taxes: a bigger check can push more of your benefits over the fixed $25,000/$32,000 thresholds — check whether Social Security income is taxable for you.
- Not yet claiming? COLAs still apply to your benefit from the year you turn 62, so you don't miss them by waiting.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Social Security COLA for 2027?
SSA announces it on October 14, 2026. Estimates in early October 2026 ranged from 3.4% to 3.6%, with The Senior Citizens League projecting 3.5%.
When will the 2027 COLA be paid?
In the January 2027 payment, which covers December 2026. SSI recipients get the increase on December 31, 2026, because January 1 is a holiday.
How much will my Social Security increase in 2027?
Multiply your current benefit by the COLA. With 3.5%, a $2,000 benefit rises to $2,070 a month before any Medicare premium change.
What was the Social Security COLA for 2026?
2.8%, applied from January 2026. The average retired-worker benefit rose to about $2,071 a month.
Do I get the COLA if I haven't started benefits?
Yes. From the year you turn 62, each COLA is built into your benefit amount even if you haven't claimed yet.