When will the 2027 Social Security COLA be announced?
Understand when the official 2027 Social Security cost-of-living adjustment will be announced and how the number is calculated.
The official number comes in October 2026
Social Security does not set the adjustment from an early forecast. The official calculation depends on inflation data for July, August, and September, so the final percentage cannot be known before all three months are available.
Estimates published before the announcement can change as new inflation reports arrive. Until the Social Security Administration publishes the result, treat every projected percentage as an estimate rather than a confirmed benefit increase.
How the COLA is calculated
The law uses the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, usually shortened to CPI-W. The average CPI-W for the third quarter of 2026 is compared with the corresponding third-quarter average used for the previous COLA.
If the new average is higher, the percentage increase—rounded according to the statutory method—becomes the COLA. If there is no qualifying increase, there is no automatic COLA for that year.
What is already confirmed
The COLA for benefits paid in 2026 is 2.8%. That is a separate adjustment based on 2025 inflation data and should not be confused with the still-unknown 2027 percentage.
After the 2027 adjustment is announced, Social Security will provide official information about new benefit amounts and timing. Individual payment changes can also reflect deductions or other personal circumstances, so a COLA percentage does not always translate into the same net increase for every recipient.
How to recognize a reliable update
You can use a my Social Security account for personal notices when they become available, but the national percentage itself will be published publicly by the agency.
- Check that the announcement comes from SSA.gov.
- Look for a publication date in October 2026.
- Separate an analyst forecast from the official COLA.
- Do not provide personal account information to a site promising early access to the result.
Frequently asked questions
Has the 2027 Social Security COLA been announced?
No. As of August 3, 2026, the official percentage has not been announced.
Why do COLA estimates change before October?
The calculation needs inflation data for the entire third quarter, so forecasts change as July, August, and September data arrive.
Is the 2026 COLA the same as the 2027 COLA?
No. The 2.8% adjustment applies to 2026 benefits. The next adjustment will use newer inflation data.
Sources
Primary and official references used for this guide:
Published August 3, 2026 · Reviewed for clarity and source accuracy.