Social Security checks could get a boost in 2027. Here’s what we know

Anticipation has been building for the Social Security Administration’s announcement of its cost-of-living (COLA) adjustment for 2027. One of the most important dates for determining it is just around the corner.

Here’s what seniors need to know.

This story was originally published on MySA, a Hearst publication.

Social Security COLA 2027 announcement date

On Wednesday, Oct. 14, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) will release the Consumer Price Index (CPI) report for September 2026. The CPI is the most widely used measure of inflation, per the BLS.

This is a crucial moment because the report includes the Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) index, which the SSA uses to calculate the 2027 COLA. The SSA has said it will make an official announcement about the 2027 COLA in October, so it could occur on the same Wednesday the CPI drops, but there is no official date yet.

Social Security Administration 2027 COLA: What it means

The SSA determines the COLA by comparing the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from the third quarter (July through September) of the last year a COLA was made with the same third-quarter period of the current year. If there is no increase, there will be no adjustment.

COLA affects the amount of money included in your Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments. Its purpose is to help ensure recipients can still afford a similar number of products and services, even amid inflation, according to the administration’s website.

“Social Security is a promise kept, and the annual cost-of-living adjustment is one way we are working to make sure benefits reflect today’s economic realities and continue to provide a foundation of security,” Social Security Administration Commissioner Frank J. Bisignano said in a blog post. “The cost-of-living adjustment is a vital part of how Social Security delivers on its mission.”

2027 Social Security COLA forecast

On Wednesday, Aug. 12, AARP, a nonpartisan organization serving Americans ages 50 and up, forecast that the 2027 COLA will be 3.5%, which would add $73 to the monthly income of retired workers. The nonprofit used the latest projections from the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Federal Reserve to determine the increase.

Meanwhile, on the same Wednesday, a forecast from The Senior Citizens League (TSCL), which provides a COLA watch on its website, listed the predicted COLA at 3.6%, which it says would increase benefits by $69.75. This is a slight decrease from TSCL’s June projection for the 2027 COLA, which was 3.8%.

What is the highest Social Security monthly payment at age 70?

It is $5,181, according to the SSA’s website.