The Social Security Administration will announce the 2027 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in mid-October 2026, continuing a schedule that has been in place for more than four decades. The announcement determines how much monthly benefits will rise for millions of retirees, disabled workers, and survivors beginning in January 2027. Because the increase is tied directly to inflation data published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the exact date shifts slightly from year to year — but it reliably lands in the middle of October.

Understanding when the COLA is announced, how it is calculated, and what it means for your benefits can help you plan ahead. Here is everything to know about the 2027 Social Security COLA announcement date.

When Will the 2027 COLA Be Announced?

The 2027 COLA will be announced in mid-October 2026. The announcement cannot be finalized until the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) releases the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) for September 2026 — the final data point needed to complete the calculation. The BLS typically publishes this figure in the first half of October, and the Social Security Administration (SSA) announces the COLA immediately afterward, often on the same day.

In recent years, the announcement has landed between roughly October 10 and October 15. For example, the 2.8% COLA for 2026 was announced in October 2025 after September inflation data became available. While beneficiaries should not expect a fixed calendar date, they can plan on the 2027 announcement arriving around the middle of October 2026.

How the Social Security COLA Is Calculated

Automatic cost-of-living adjustments were created by legislation enacted in 1973 to help Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits keep pace with inflation. Under the formula set out in the Social Security Act, each COLA is based on increases in the CPI-W, which the BLS calculates on a monthly basis.

The formula is straightforward. A COLA effective for December of a given year equals the percentage increase in the CPI-W from the average of the third quarter of the current year to the average of the third quarter of the last year in which a COLA became effective. If the result is an increase, it is rounded to the nearest tenth of one percent. If there is no increase — or if the rounded increase is zero — there is no COLA for that year.

The most recent calculation offers a clear example. Because the last year in which a COLA became effective was 2024, the SSA used the third-quarter 2024 average of 308.729 as its base. The third-quarter 2025 average came in at 317.265. The math was simple:

(317.265 - 308.729) / 308.729 x 100 = 2.8 percent.

That 2.8% increase applied to benefits for December 2025, which were payable in January 2026. The underlying monthly figures show how the calculation builds up across the summer: July 2025 (316.349), August 2025 (317.306), and September 2025 (318.139) all exceeded their 2024 counterparts.

Timeline: How a COLA Takes Shape Each Year

The path to each year's COLA follows a predictable rhythm:

  • July through September: The BLS records the monthly CPI-W readings that form the third-quarter average.
  • Mid-October: The BLS releases September's CPI-W, and the SSA announces the COLA for the coming year.
  • Late November: COLA notices become available online to most beneficiaries in the Message Center of their my Social Security account.
  • December: The COLA takes effect with December benefits, which are payable in January of the new year.

Since 1983, COLAs have been effective with benefits payable in December. For 2027, that means the increase will show up in benefit payments received in January 2027. SSI payment levels rise at the same rate, effective for payments made in January.

Recent COLA History: From a Spike to a Slowdown

The size of each year's COLA is a direct reflection of inflation. Recent history shows how sharply that can swing:

  • 2021: 5.9%
  • 2022: 8.7% — the largest increase in four decades, driven by surging inflation
  • 2023: 3.2%
  • 2024: 2.5%
  • 2025 (payable in 2026): 2.8%

Over the longer term, the extremes are even wider. The COLA hit 14.3% in 1980 during a period of double-digit inflation, while there was no COLA at all in 2009, 2010, and 2015 because prices did not rise enough to trigger an increase. These swings illustrate why the annual announcement is so closely watched: the number can range from zero to double digits depending on the economy.

What Could Shape the 2027 Increase

The 2027 COLA will be determined by comparing the average CPI-W for the third quarter of 2026 against the third-quarter 2025 average of 317.265, which becomes the new base because a COLA took effect in 2025. That means the July, August, and September 2026 inflation readings — released between August and mid-October — will ultimately set the number.

Inflation has cooled considerably from its 2022 peak, which pushed the COLA to 8.7%. With price growth moderating, the 2026 and 2025 adjustments of 2.8% and 2.5% are closer to the program's long-run historical average. The 2027 figure will depend on whether that cooling trend holds through the summer of 2026 or whether prices reaccelerate.

What Happens After the Announcement

Once the SSA announces the 2027 COLA in mid-October 2026, beneficiaries will not see the change immediately. The higher payment amounts begin with December 2026 benefits, which are paid in January 2027. Most beneficiaries can view their personalized COLA notice online in the Message Center of their my Social Security account starting in late November 2026.

The SSA encourages beneficiaries to create or sign in to a my Social Security account to receive notices online rather than by mail. The agency also reminds recipients that its services are free and warns against fraudsters who may try to solicit personal information or fees in connection with the COLA.

The Bottom Line: Key Points to Remember

  • The 2027 Social Security COLA will be announced in mid-October 2026, after September CPI-W data is released.
  • The COLA is based on the CPI-W and compares third-quarter averages from the current year against the previous base year.
  • The most recent COLA, for 2026, was 2.8% — down from 8.7% in 2022 as inflation cooled.
  • The 2027 increase will take effect with December 2026 benefits, payable in January 2027.
  • Beneficiaries can view their COLA notices online via a my Social Security account in late November.