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Your Social Security check
The 2027 Social Security COLA: the estimate (3.4% to 3.6%), when it arrives and what to check
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COLA is the yearly raise in Social Security benefits. Here is the number, when it shows up in your check, how Medicare's Part B premium can take part of it, and what to look at on the letter you will get.
This is an ESTIMATE, not the official number. The 2027 COLA will be announced Wednesday, October 14, 2026, when the Bureau of Labor Statistics releases September inflation data. Three groups that forecast it currently land between 3.4% and 3.6%. This page will show the official figure as soon as it is announced. The 2026 raise was 2.8%.
What is the Social Security COLA?
COLA stands for cost-of-living adjustment. It is an automatic yearly raise in Social Security benefits that follows consumer prices. You do not apply for it.
The raise is set from a government inflation measure called the CPI-W. Social Security compares the average of July, August and September with the same months a year earlier, and the percentage change becomes the next year's COLA. The September figure comes out on October 14, 2026, which is why the announcement is on that day. Because it is a percentage of your own benefit, a larger check gets a larger dollar raise.
What are the estimates for the 2027 COLA?
| Who | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget | 3.4% |
| The Senior Citizens League (September update) | 3.5% |
| AARP (September update) | 3.6% |
Source: Fox Business, September 21, 2026, on the CRFB, TSCL and AARP estimates. Forecasts shift as new inflation data arrives, and the real number can land outside this range.
What would the 2027 COLA mean in dollars?
| Monthly benefit now (example) | Estimated raise per month | Estimated new amount before deductions |
|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $34.00 to $36.00 | $1,034.00 to $1,036.00 |
| $1,500 | $51.00 to $54.00 | $1,551.00 to $1,554.00 |
| $2,000 | $68.00 to $72.00 | $2,068.00 to $2,072.00 |
| $2,500 | $85.00 to $90.00 | $2,585.00 to $2,590.00 |
These are round example amounts to show the math: amount times the percentage. They are not average benefits and not official figures. Your own notice has your exact amount.
When does the 2027 COLA reach my check?
The new amount starts with the December 2026 benefit, which is paid in January 2027. Social Security mailed 2026 notices throughout December, and online notices were available in early December to people with a my Social Security account.
That is the pattern from last year, and the 2027 notice dates have not been announced. Payment day depends on your birthdate or when you started benefits, so the January deposit may land on your usual day. SSI is different: its January payment is made on the last business day of December. Wait until January before calling Social Security about a notice that has not arrived, as the agency advises.
How does the Medicare Part B premium affect the raise?
If you have Medicare Part B and your premium is taken out of your Social Security check, the premium change comes out of the same check as the raise. The 2026 standard premium is $202.90 a month. The Medicare Trustees' projection for the 2027 Part B premium (not final) is $209.50, a change of $6.60 a month.
So the number that matters for your budget is the raise minus the premium change. For a person with a $2,000 benefit and a 3.4% to 3.6% raise, the raise is bigger than the $6.60 premium change, so most people still see a net increase. A rule called hold harmless protects many people from a net decrease when the raise is too small to cover the premium increase. It does not apply to everyone: people newly enrolled in Part B, people who pay an income-related surcharge (IRMAA), and people whose state pays their premium are outside it.
The final Part B premium is usually announced in the fall, so see our page on the 2027 Medicare Part B premium for the latest. If your income is limited, a Medicare Savings Program may pay the premium for you.
What should I check on my January letter?
- The new gross benefit. Divide the new amount by your old one. It should match the announced percentage, give or take rounding.
- The Part B line. Compare the premium shown with the announced 2027 premium. If you pay a higher amount, ask why (an income surcharge is the usual reason).
- The net deposit. After the Part B premium and any other deductions, this is what reaches your bank. It is the number to budget with.
- Other deductions. Look for tax withholding or a Medicare drug-plan premium you did not choose.
- Your address and bank details. If anything is wrong, fix it through your my Social Security account or by calling Social Security at the number on the official site.
Open your notice online by signing in to my Social Security and checking the Message Center.
Is there a fee to get the COLA?
No. The raise is automatic and nobody can charge you to get it. A caller or message that asks for a fee, gift cards or your Social Security number "to process your raise" is a scam.
Social Security's scam page explains how to report one at ssa.gov/scam.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 2027 Social Security COLA?
It is not announced yet. The announcement is scheduled for October 14, 2026. Current estimates run from 3.4% to 3.6% and are not official. The 2026 COLA was 2.8%.
When will I get the 2027 raise?
The new amount is expected to start with the December 2026 benefit, paid in January 2027. Last year Social Security mailed notices throughout December and posted them online in early December. The 2027 dates have not been announced.
Do I have to apply for the COLA?
No. It is automatic. Anyone asking for a fee to get your raise is a scammer.
Will the Medicare Part B premium reduce my raise?
If your Part B premium is deducted from your Social Security, the premium change comes out of the same check. The 2026 premium is $202.90 and the Trustees projected $209.50 for 2027. That projection is not final. Hold harmless protects many people from a net decrease, but not new enrollees or people who pay an income-related surcharge.
Is the 3.6% number official?
No. Every percentage on this page before October 14 is an estimate from a forecaster. The official number is set by the September inflation report.
Sources
Figures are as of October 13, 2026. This page is updated when the official number is announced.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI release schedule (September 2026 CPI on October 14, 2026). https://www.bls.gov/schedule/news_release/cpi.htm
- Social Security Administration, announcement of the 2.8 percent 2026 benefit increase. https://www.ssa.gov/news/en/press/releases/2025-10-24.html
- Social Security Administration, how much the COLA is and when you receive it (notices throughout December, online in early December, Message Center). https://www.ssa.gov/faqs/en/questions/KA-01951.html
- Social Security Administration, latest COLA information. https://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/latestCOLA.html
- Social Security Administration, how the hold harmless provision protects your benefits. https://www.ssa.gov/blog/en/posts/2020-11-30.html
- CMS, 2026 Medicare Parts A and B premiums and deductibles ($202.90 premium, $283 deductible). https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-parts-b-premiums-deductibles
- Estimates for the 2027 COLA (CRFB, TSCL, AARP), as reported in October 2026. https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/social-security-recipients-may-get-bigger-benefit-boost-2027
- Social Security Administration, scam information and how to report. https://www.ssa.gov/scam/
Related: Your 2027 raise: what to watch before January, 2027 Part B premium and how much Social Security will I get.
General education only, not financial, tax, legal or medical advice. Ask Margaret is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or part of the Social Security Administration, Medicare, CMS or any government agency.
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