Social Security will announce the 2027 cost-of-living adjustment on October 14, 2026. Forecasts put it at about 3.5%. Enter your current benefit to see what your check could look like.
Before any change in your Medicare Part B premium. Social Security rounds benefits down to the next lower dollar.
At a 3.5% COLA (forecast midpoint).
| Current benefit | 2027 benefit | More per month | More per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,200 | $1,242.00 | $42.00 | $504 |
| $1,600 | $1,656.00 | $56.00 | $672 |
| $2,000 | $2,070.00 | $70.00 | $840 |
| $2,400 | $2,484.00 | $84.00 | $1,008 |
| $3,000 | $3,105.00 | $105.00 | $1,260 |
| $4,000 | $4,140.00 | $140.00 | $1,680 |
| Year | COLA |
|---|---|
| 2027 | 3.4% to 3.6% (forecast) |
| 2026 | 2.8% |
| 2025 | 2.5% |
| 2024 | 3.2% |
| 2023 | 8.7% |
| 2022 | 5.9% |
| 2021 | 1.3% |
| 2020 | 1.6% |
It will be announced on October 14, 2026, when September inflation data comes out. With July and August already known, forecasters expect 3.4% to 3.6%, which would be the largest increase since 2023.
Multiply your current benefit by the COLA. At 3.5%, a $2,000 monthly benefit rises by about $70 to $2,070. Use the calculator above for your exact amount.
The COLA applies to benefits for December 2026, which are paid in January 2027. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients see the increase on their December 31, 2026 payment.
Probably some of it. The standard Medicare Part B premium, usually deducted from Social Security checks, rose from $185.00 in 2025 to $202.90 a month in 2026. The 2027 premium is usually announced in November. If it rises, your net increase will be smaller than the COLA alone.
It equals the percentage rise in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from the third quarter of last year to the third quarter of this year, averaging July, August and September.