Social Security · updated August 30, 2026
2027 Social Security COLA: estimated 3.6%
The 2027 cost-of-living adjustment is currently estimated at 3.6% (not yet official) — which would be the largest increase since 2023. For the average retired-worker check of $2,085.98, that's about $75.10 more per month. The official number is announced October 14, 2026, and this page updates that morning.
What would your 2027 benefit be?
Enter your current monthly benefit. The estimate applies the projected 3.6% COLA — try other percentages to see the range.
Estimates only, before any Medicare Part B premium change. Exact benefit amounts are set by the SSA and rounded per its rules.
COLA history — where 2027 fits
Official COLAs from the Social Security Administration; 2027 is the current TSCL estimate.
The dates that matter
- Sept 11, 2026 — August CPI release; estimates tighten.
- Oct 14, 2026, 8:30 a.m. ET — September CPI is released and the SSA announces the official 2027 COLA.
- Mid-November 2026 — CMS announces the 2027 Medicare Part B premium (deducted from checks).
- Dec 31, 2026 — increased SSI payments begin.
- January 2027 — the COLA appears in Social Security checks (effective with December 2026 benefits).
How the number is set
The COLA equals the percentage rise in the CPI-W from the third-quarter average (July–September) of the last COLA year to this year's third-quarter average. That's why the September CPI release settles it — it completes the third quarter. No increase in the index means no COLA.
Watch the net effect: the Part B premium comes out of the same check, so the deposit increase can be smaller than the headline COLA. See how inflation affects your buying power with the inflation calculator.
If a letter says you were overpaid, that is the other direction and a much bigger bite: the default is now half the monthly benefit. Work out what would leave your check with the Social Security overpayment calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 2027 Social Security COLA estimate?
The latest estimate from The Senior Citizens League (August 2026) puts the 2027 COLA at about 3.6%, with AARP estimating around 3.5%. If it holds, it would be the largest increase since 2023. The official figure is announced by the Social Security Administration on October 14, 2026.
When will the official 2027 COLA be announced?
October 14, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. ET — the morning the Bureau of Labor Statistics releases September CPI data. The SSA typically announces the official COLA the same morning. This page will be updated with the official number that day.
How is the Social Security COLA calculated?
The COLA equals the percentage increase in the CPI-W (Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers) from the third-quarter average (July–September) of the last year a COLA was determined to the third-quarter average of the current year. If the index doesn't rise, there is no COLA.
When does the 2027 COLA show up in checks?
The increase is effective with December 2026 benefits, which are payable in January 2027. Increased SSI payments begin December 31, 2026.
Will the Medicare Part B premium reduce my COLA increase?
Possibly. The 2027 Part B premium is announced separately in mid-November and is deducted directly from Social Security checks, so a premium increase offsets part of the COLA. Your net deposit increase can be smaller than the headline percentage.
Last reviewed August 31, 2026. Figures based on the Social Security Administration (ssa.gov/cola), the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-W schedule, and The Senior Citizens League's COLA Watch. Estimates for general education, not financial advice.