Social Security COLA 2027 Announcement Date: People who receive Social Security are already looking ahead to 2027. The yearly cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, is expected to be announced in October. Current estimates suggest that the increase could be higher than the 2.8% increase that beneficiaries received for 2026.
The latest estimate from AARP puts the 2027 COLA at around 3.5%. Another recent estimate from The Senior Citizens League is a little higher at 3.6%. Both figures are only forecasts right now, so the final number can still change before the government finishes its calculation.
The official COLA is expected to be announced on October 14, 2026, after the release of September inflation data. The final figure will be based on prices recorded during the third quarter of 2026.
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How is the 2027 Social Security COLA calculated?
The COLA isn’t picked randomly. Social Security uses inflation data from the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, better known as the CPI-W.
The government looks at the CPI-W for July, August and September. These three months are compared with the same period from the previous year. Since August and September data aren’t available yet, the current 2027 COLA numbers are still estimates.
The latest numbers give an early idea of where the increase could land. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the CPI-W was up 3.4% over the year in July 2026. The regular CPI also rose 3.4% over the same 12-month period.
Prices are still moving in different directions. In July, food prices were 3.0% higher than a year earlier. Energy prices were up 14.7% and shelter costs rose 3.2%. Gasoline prices were also much higher than a year ago, rising 24.6%. Because inflation can change during the remaining months, the final Social Security increase could be above or below the current forecasts.
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What could a 3.5% COLA mean for Social Security payments?
AARP’s current estimate is that Social Security benefits could increase by 3.5% in 2027. Based on the average retirement benefit of about $2,086 per month in July, that would mean an increase of around $73 each month. For other beneficiaries, the estimated increase could look like this:
| Type of beneficiary | Current average monthly benefit | Possible increase with 3.5% COLA |
|---|---|---|
| Retired worker | $2,086 | About $73 |
| Surviving spouse | $1,933 | About $68 |
| Social Security Disability Insurance worker | $1,635 | About $57 |
These are estimates, not guaranteed payment amounts. A person’s actual increase will depend on their own benefit. The final COLA percentage will also be known only after all the needed inflation data is available.
The Senior Citizens League currently has a slightly higher forecast of 3.6%. That would put the increase above the 3.5% estimate from AARP, but it also remains only a projection.
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When will the 2027 Social Security COLA be announced?
The important date for beneficiaries is October 14, 2026. That’s when September’s inflation report is expected to be released, giving the government the final piece of data needed for the COLA calculation. The Social Security Administration says the next COLA will be announced in October 2026.
Once the new COLA is confirmed, beneficiaries won’t have to submit an application to get the increase. The adjustment is automatic. The higher Social Security benefit will start with payments payable in January 2027. For comparison, the confirmed COLA for 2026 was 2.8%. Social Security said that increase would add about $56 per month on average to retirement benefits.
That means a 3.5% increase in 2027 would be noticeably higher than this year’s 2.8% adjustment. Still, beneficiaries should remember that a bigger payment doesn’t always mean more buying power because prices for food, housing, energy and healthcare can also keep rising.
