Social Security COLA 2027: When Is the Announcement and What Do We Know So Far?

Short answer: as of October 12, 2026, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has not announced the 2027 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) that we could verify. The key data is the September Consumer Price Index, which the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has scheduled for Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern. The SSA has historically announced the COLA after that release, and media reports expect it that same day. Any percentage you see before then is a forecast, not an official number.

Status check — October 12, 2026: no official 2027 COLA figure found on SSA.gov. This page will be updated once the SSA publishes it. Always confirm the final number on SSA.gov.

What the COLA is and how it's set

The COLA is a yearly increase in Social Security and SSI benefits so they keep up with rising prices. By law it is based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).

According to the SSA, it compares the third-quarter average CPI-W (July, August and September) with the third-quarter average of the last year a COLA took effect. The adjustment is the percentage increase, rounded to the nearest tenth of a percent. If prices don't rise, there is no COLA.

So the 2027 number can't be known until the September 2026 CPI-W is published.

What is official and what is a forecast

• Official: the 2026 COLA was 2.8 %, according to the SSA. For context, recent years were 5.9 % (2021), 8.7 % (2022), 3.2 % (2023), 2.5 % (2024) and 2.8 % (2025).
• Scheduled: the September CPI release, October 14, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. ET (BLS).
• Not announced: the 2027 COLA percentage.
• Forecasts only: an article published on September 19, 2026 cited estimates of about 3.5 % (The Senior Citizens League) and 3.6 % (AARP). They are not official and may differ from the final figure.

When would the increase show up?

The SSA says the COLA starts with the December benefit, paid in January. For 2027, that would be the December 2026 benefit, paid in January 2027, assuming the same timing as previous years. Confirm the dates in the SSA announcement.

Will my check go up by the full percentage?

Not necessarily. Medicare Part B premiums are often deducted from Social Security payments and can also change, so your net deposit may rise by less. Taxes can also affect what you keep. To work out an example for your own benefit, see how to estimate your new monthly benefit.

How to check the official number

Go to ssa.gov/cola, or log in to your my Social Security account. Be careful with headlines that promise a specific increase without citing the SSA.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2027 COLA 3.5 %?

That is a forecast reported by third parties, not an official number. The official figure is whatever the SSA announces.

Can the COLA be zero?

Yes. If the CPI-W doesn't increase, there is no COLA. The SSA series lists 0.0 % for 2015.