Social Security COLA 2027: 3.6%
Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits rise 3.6% in January 2027. The cost-of-living adjustment equals the increase in the average consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers (CPI-W) for July–September 2026, 328.746, over the same quarter of 2025, 317.265.
What the 2027 COLA means for a monthly check
| Benefit in 2026 | Increase | About, in 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | +$36 | $1,036 |
| $1,500 | +$54 | $1,554 |
| $2,000 | +$72 | $2,072 |
| $2,500 | +$90 | $2,590 |
| $3,000 | +$108 | $3,108 |
| $4,000 | +$144 | $4,144 |
Illustration before Medicare premium changes; SSA applies the COLA to each person's primary insurance amount and rounds benefits down to the whole dollar.
COLA by year since 1985
Every Social Security COLA since 1985
| COLA year | Increase | CPI-W Q3 average | Compared with Q3 of |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 3.6% | 328.746 (2026) | 2025 (317.265) |
| 2026 | 2.8% | 317.265 (2025) | 2024 (308.729) |
| 2025 | 2.5% | 308.729 (2024) | 2023 (301.236) |
| 2024 | 3.2% | 301.236 (2023) | 2022 (291.901) |
| 2023 | 8.7% | 291.901 (2022) | 2021 (268.421) |
| 2022 | 5.9% | 268.421 (2021) | 2020 (253.412) |
| 2021 | 1.3% | 253.412 (2020) | 2019 (250.200) |
| 2020 | 1.6% | 250.200 (2019) | 2018 (246.352) |
| 2019 | 2.8% | 246.352 (2018) | 2017 (239.668) |
| 2018 | 2.0% | 239.668 (2017) | 2016 (235.057) |
| 2017 | 0.3% | 235.057 (2016) | 2014 (234.242) |
| 2016 | 0.0% | 233.278 (2015) | 2014 (234.242) |
| 2015 | 1.7% | 234.242 (2014) | 2013 (230.327) |
| 2014 | 1.5% | 230.327 (2013) | 2012 (226.936) |
| 2013 | 1.7% | 226.936 (2012) | 2011 (223.233) |
| 2012 | 3.6% | 223.233 (2011) | 2008 (215.495) |
| 2011 | 0.0% | 214.136 (2010) | 2008 (215.495) |
| 2010 | 0.0% | 211.001 (2009) | 2008 (215.495) |
| 2009 | 5.8% | 215.495 (2008) | 2007 (203.596) |
| 2008 | 2.3% | 203.596 (2007) | 2006 (199.067) |
| 2007 | 3.3% | 199.067 (2006) | 2005 (192.700) |
| 2006 | 4.1% | 192.700 (2005) | 2004 (185.100) |
| 2005 | 2.7% | 185.100 (2004) | 2003 (180.300) |
| 2004 | 2.1% | 180.300 (2003) | 2002 (176.567) |
| 2003 | 1.4% | 176.567 (2002) | 2001 (174.133) |
| 2002 | 2.6% | 174.133 (2001) | 2000 (169.700) |
| 2001 | 3.5% | 169.700 (2000) | 1999 (163.933) |
| 2000 | 2.5% | 163.933 (1999) | 1998 (160.000) |
| 1999 | 1.4% | 160.000 (1998) | 1997 (157.867) |
| 1998 | 2.1% | 157.867 (1997) | 1996 (154.633) |
| 1997 | 2.9% | 154.633 (1996) | 1995 (150.233) |
| 1996 | 2.6% | 150.233 (1995) | 1994 (146.400) |
| 1995 | 2.8% | 146.400 (1994) | 1993 (142.367) |
| 1994 | 2.6% | 142.367 (1993) | 1992 (138.767) |
| 1993 | 3.0% | 138.767 (1992) | 1991 (134.700) |
| 1992 | 3.7% | 134.700 (1991) | 1990 (129.900) |
| 1991 | 5.3% | 129.900 (1990) | 1989 (123.333) |
| 1990 | 4.7% | 123.333 (1989) | 1988 (117.800) |
| 1989 | 4.0% | 117.800 (1988) | 1987 (113.267) |
| 1988 | 4.2% | 113.267 (1987) | 1986 (108.700) |
| 1987 | 1.3% | 108.700 (1986) | 1985 (107.333) |
| 1986 | 3.1% | 107.333 (1985) | 1984 (104.067) |
| 1985 | 3.5% | 104.067 (1984) | 1983 (100.533) |
Computed from the BLS CPI-W with SSA's formula; the figures for 2016–2026 are checked against SSA's announcements before publishing. No COLA was paid in 2016, 2011, 2010.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Social Security COLA for 2027?
3.6%, effective with benefits payable in January 2027. On a $2,000 monthly benefit that is about $72 more a month, before any change in Medicare premiums.
What will the 2028 COLA be?
It will be set in October 2027 from July–September CPI-W data. As a rough guide, the CPI-W was +3.9% above a year earlier in September 2026.
How is the COLA calculated?
The Social Security Administration compares the average CPI-W for July, August and September with the same three months of the last year a COLA took effect, and rounds the increase to the nearest tenth of a percent. If prices did not rise by at least 0.1%, there is no COLA — as in 2010, 2011 and 2016 — and the next one is measured from the last quarter that produced an increase.
When is the COLA announced?
SSA announces the next year's COLA in October, on the day the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes September's consumer price index. Higher Social Security payments start in January; SSI payments for January arrive at the turn of the year.
Why might my check go up by less than the COLA?
Medicare Part B premiums are usually deducted from Social Security payments, so a rise in the premium for the new year offsets part of the COLA. SSA also rounds benefits down to the whole dollar.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI-W (not seasonally adjusted), via FRED; method per the Social Security Administration. Official benefit amounts come from SSA. Inflation calculator →