Social Security COLA 2027: People who get Social Security benefits are already thinking about what comes next in 2027. New estimates suggest the cost-of-living payment could be higher than the 2.8% bump used in 2026.
Right now, the Senior Citizens League, or TSCL, expects a 3.6% COLA for 2027. If TSCL is right, the typical benefit may rise by about $70 each month. Still, this is not the official figure yet.
The Social Security Administration will set the final 2027 COLA using inflation data from the third quarter of 2026. The SSA plans to announce the COLA in October. The agency also says the next COLA update will be released in October 2026.
TSCL’s 2027 COLA estimate is 3.6%. That rate would be above the 2.8% increase from 2026. It would also be lower than the big 8.7% adjustment people saw in 2023.
TSCL says a 3.6% increase applied to an average benefit of $1,937.53 would add about $69.75 per month. That would place the average payment near $2,007.28.
Some reports use a different benchmark, like the average retired-worker benefit. That number stood at $2,085.98 in July 2026. With a 3.6% increase, it would move to around $2,161.07, which is roughly $75 more each month.
A COLA affects more than just one group in Social Security and SSI. So the possible bump in 2027 would not be only for retirees.
1. Social Security Retirement Benefits
People already getting Social Security in retirement may see a higher monthly payment once the COLA is set.
For instance, if someone gets $2,000 per month now and the final COLA comes in at 3.6%, the payment would go up by about $72 each month. That would put the new amount near $2,072.
To add some context, the average retired-worker benefit was $2,085.98 in July 2026.
2. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
People receiving SSDI should also receive the COLA.
The 2026 SSA fact sheet shows that the average benefit for all disabled workers rose from $1,586 before the 2026 adjustment to $1,630 after the 2.8% COLA.
A future 3.6% adjustment would similarly increase individual SSDI payments, although the exact dollar increase depends on the person’s current benefit.
Survivor benefits including benefits paid to eligible widows, widowers and children also receive annual COLA adjustments.
The SSA’s 2026 figures show an average benefit of $1,919 for an aged widow(er) alone after the 2.8% adjustment.
A 3.6% COLA would add roughly $69 to a $1,919 monthly payment, if that same benefit level were used purely for illustration.
4. Spousal benefits
Eligible spouses receiving Social Security benefits would also see their payments adjusted.
The average spousal benefit was reported at about $986.53 per month in July 2026. A 3.6% increase would work out to roughly $35.52 more per month, or about $1,022 after the increase.
5. Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
SSI recipients are also affected by the annual COLA.
For 2026, the maximum federal SSI payment is $994 per month for an eligible individual and $1,491 for an eligible couple.
If a 3.6% COLA were applied, the figures would be approximately:
These are estimates, not official 2027 SSI payment amounts. Actual SSI payments can be lower because of income, living arrangements and other factors.
Social Security Full Retirement Age 2027: What Changes and What Doesn’t
Social Security’s COLA is tied to the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).
The calculation compares the average CPI-W for July, August and September with the corresponding average from the previous year. The percentage increase becomes the COLA, subject to the statutory formula.
The July 2026 CPI-W increased 3.4% over the previous year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. August’s CPI data is scheduled for release on September 11, while September’s data will come later.
That means the final 2027 COLA cannot be known yet.
The current 3.6% projection is based on available inflation information and assumptions about the remaining months.
If inflation comes in hotter than expected during August or September, the final COLA could be higher. If inflation cools, the final COLA could be lower.
Headlines that promise a 3.6% Social Security boost are jumping ahead. Right now, the SSA says the next COLA will be announced in October 2026. Your maximum benefit can also change. It depends on your earnings record and when you claim.
For 2026, the SSA shows these maximum monthly amounts:
After the SSA sets the final COLA, the change will show up in Social Security checks for January 2027.
SSI has a different timing issue. January 1 is a federal holiday, so the usual schedule shifts. In past years, the January SSI payment arrived at the end of December.
For a point of reference, the 2026 COLA was 2.8%. Social Security payments for that increase started in January 2026. SSI payments for the same period started on December 31, 2025.
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