The Social Security Administration (SSA) is expected to announce the 2027 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in October 2026. As of October 7, the rate had not been announced. The latest reported forecasts are 3.5% from The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) and 3.6% from Kiplinger staff economist David Payne; both are estimates, not the official adjustment.
When will the 2027 COLA be announced?
SSA says it will announce the next COLA in October 2026. The final inflation data used in the calculation—the September Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)—are scheduled for release on October 14, 2026, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) release schedule. Contemporaneous reporting expects SSA’s announcement after those data are available. October 14 is the scheduled CPI release date, not a guaranteed COLA announcement date; release schedules can change.
Check the SSA COLA summary for the official announcement. Until SSA publishes the rate, any 2027 percentage should be treated as a forecast.
What are the latest 2027 COLA projections?
The latest sourced forecasts differ slightly. Kiplinger’s September 30, 2026 report says TSCL lowered its estimate from 3.6% in July to 3.5% in August. Kiplinger staff economist David Payne projected 3.6% in the same report. The September CPI-W reading was still outstanding at the October 7 cutoff.
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| Forecaster | 2027 estimate | Timing and status |
|---|---|---|
| The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) | 3.5% | August 2026 estimate, reported by Kiplinger on September 30, 2026; forecast, not official. |
| David Payne, Kiplinger staff economist | 3.6% | Projection reported by Kiplinger on September 30, 2026; forecast, not official. |
These are separate estimates rather than an official SSA range. The remaining September CPI-W figure could change projections. TSCL executive director Shannon Benton told Kiplinger on September 30 that short-term economic shocks could push inflation up or down before the announcement.
How is the Social Security COLA calculated?
The COLA calculation uses the average CPI-W for July, August, and September and compares that third-quarter average with the corresponding average from the prior year. It is not based on a single month’s year-over-year inflation rate. For the 2027 adjustment, September’s CPI-W reading was the outstanding month as of October 7.
Kiplinger reported that CPI-W was up 3.5% year over year in August 2026. That figure gives inflation context but is not itself the 2027 COLA: SSA uses the specified third-quarter averages.
What could a projected increase mean for a monthly check?
Kiplinger’s illustration applies a hypothetical 3.5% COLA to SSA’s August 2026 average retired-worker monthly benefit of $2,087.52. The arithmetic produces an estimated increase of $73.06 per month and a resulting average of $2,160.58. This is an example based on an average benefit and a forecast rate, not a promise of an individual’s payment.
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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteA COLA percentage does not tell each recipient their final net check amount. Individual benefit amounts differ, and a recipient’s SSA notice is the source for their own adjustment. No personalized 2027 amounts were available while the official rate was pending.
When would the 2027 adjustment affect benefits?
SSA says the completed 2026 COLA was 2.8%, beginning with Social Security benefits payable in January 2026. SSA’s general COLA information explains that, after 1982, adjustments have been effective with benefits payable for December and received in January. For the 2027 adjustment, wait for SSA’s official determination and the recipient-specific notice for the applicable amount and timing.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How does the 2027 forecast compare with the latest official COLA?
The latest completed official adjustment is the 2.8% COLA for 2026, according to SSA. The 3.5% and 3.6% figures are projections for 2027 and should not be compared as though the new rate were already set. SSA’s COLA information page explains the adjustment and its benefit timing.
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