2027 Social Security COLA
Estimate: 3.8%
The 2027 Social Security cost-of-living adjustment is estimated at about 3.8% (The Senior Citizens League, July 2026) — up from 2.8% in 2026. The official figure lands with September CPI-W data, expected around 14 October 2026. See what it means for your benefit.
Quick answer: The 2027 Social Security COLA is estimated at about 3.8%, per The Senior Citizens League's July 2026 analysis of CPI-W inflation — up from the 2.8% adjustment paid in 2026. This is provisional: the official 2027 COLA is set from July–September CPI-W and is expected to be announced around 14 October 2026, taking effect for benefits payable from January 2027. At 3.8%, the average retired-worker benefit would rise from about $1,937.53 to $2,011.15 a month — roughly $73.62 more per month, or about $883 a year. To estimate your own increase, multiply your current monthly benefit by 1.038 (or use the calculator above and adjust the percentage once the official figure is released). The COLA is calculated as the change in average CPI-W for the third quarter versus the same quarter a year earlier, rounded to 0.1%.
Last reviewed 27 July 2026 by the Richify AI editorial team.
The average retired-worker benefit is about $1,937.53/month.
Default 3.8% (TSCL, July 2026). Provisional until the official figure lands ~14 Oct 2026 — then set it to the real number.
Estimated 2027 benefit
$2,011.16
per month at 3.8%
Monthly increase
+$73.63
vs today
Annual increase
+$884
over the year
2026 COLA (now)
2.8%
for comparison
What is the 2027 Social Security COLA?
The 2027 cost-of-living adjustment is estimated at about 3.8%, per The Senior Citizens League's July 2026 analysis of CPI-W inflation — up from the 2.8% paid in 2026. This is provisional: the official figure is set from July–September CPI-W and is expected around 14 October 2026, taking effect for benefits payable from January 2027. At 3.8%, the average retired-worker benefit rises from about $1,937.53 to $2,011.15 a month — roughly $73.62 more per month, or about $883 a year.
The COLA equals the change in average CPI-W for the third quarter (July, August, September) versus the same quarter a year earlier, rounded to 0.1% — which is why summer estimates move with each monthly inflation report. To estimate your own increase, multiply your current benefit by 1.038, or use the calculator above and set the exact percentage once it is announced. See also our Social Security cut calculator and retirement calculator.
How the 2027 COLA gets set
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| Jul–Sep 2026 | BLS publishes CPI-W for each month; the third-quarter average is the input. |
| Now (Jul 2026) | Provisional estimate ≈ 3.8% (TSCL) from data through August. |
| ~14 Oct 2026 | September CPI-W released → SSA announces the official 2027 COLA. |
| Jan 2027 | The COLA applies to benefits payable from January 2027. |
Sources: Social Security Administration, “Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA)” and 2026 COLA fact sheet (2.8%); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI-W; The Senior Citizens League 2027 COLA projection (July 2026, ~3.8% from CPI-W through August); SSA monthly statistical snapshot (average retired-worker benefit ~$1,937.53). The 3.8% figure is an estimate, not the official 2027 COLA. Last updated 28 July 2026; official figure expected ~14 October 2026.
Education only, not financial advice. The 2027 COLA shown here is a provisional estimate (The Senior Citizens League, July 2026), not the official figure — the Social Security Administration sets the real number from July–September CPI-W, expected around 14 October 2026. Your actual benefit change depends on your own benefit amount and can be affected by Medicare Part B premium changes announced in the autumn. Verify the official COLA on ssa.gov once released. Last updated: 28 July 2026.
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Richify tracks your retirement income, Social Security and savings together — so when the official 2027 COLA lands you can see exactly what changes. Free, no ads.
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How to use this calculator
- Enter your current monthly Social Security benefit (the pre-2027 amount).
- Leave the COLA at the 3.8% estimate, or adjust it to model a higher or lower outcome.
- See your estimated 2027 monthly benefit and the monthly and annual increase.
- Come back after ~14 October 2026, when the official 2027 COLA is announced, to lock in the real figure.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 2027 Social Security COLA?
The 2027 cost-of-living adjustment is estimated at about 3.8%, according to The Senior Citizens League's July 2026 analysis of CPI-W inflation data. That is a provisional estimate, not the official figure — it is up from the 2.8% COLA paid in 2026. The official 2027 COLA is set from July–September CPI-W data and is expected to be announced around 14 October 2026.
When is the official 2027 COLA announced?
By law the COLA is based on inflation in the third quarter (July, August and September). The Social Security Administration announces the final figure when the Bureau of Labor Statistics releases September CPI-W data — typically mid-October, expected around 14 October 2026. The increase then applies to benefits payable from January 2027.
How is the Social Security COLA calculated?
The COLA equals the percentage increase in the average CPI-W (the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers) for July, August and September, compared with the same three months of the previous year, rounded to the nearest 0.1%. If third-quarter prices are not higher than the year before, the COLA is 0%. Because summer estimates only have part of the quarter's data, they move with each monthly inflation report.
How much will my Social Security check go up in 2027?
At the estimated 3.8%, the average retired-worker benefit would rise from about $1,937.53 to $2,011.15 a month — roughly $73.62 more per month, or about $883 more per year. Your own increase depends on your current benefit: multiply it by 1.038 for the 3.8% estimate. Enter your benefit above to see your figure, and adjust the percentage once the official number lands.
Why do the 2027 COLA estimates keep changing?
The COLA only uses July–September CPI-W, so any estimate made before October is based on incomplete data and shifts as each month's inflation print arrives. The Senior Citizens League's estimate has hovered around 3.7%–3.8% through mid-2026, while some higher-inflation scenarios run above 4%. Treat any pre-October number as provisional.
Is a 3.8% COLA good news for retirees?
It's larger than 2026's 2.8%, but a COLA only maintains purchasing power against measured inflation — it isn't a real raise. Advocacy groups also note CPI-W tracks working-age spending, not the housing and medical costs that weigh more heavily on retirees, so many feel a COLA doesn't fully keep pace. Medicare Part B premium changes (also announced in the autumn) can offset part of the increase.
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Further Reading
Plan Your 2027 Benefit With Confidence
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