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Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA)
The yearly increase in Social Security and SSI benefits, calculated from the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)
- 2027 COLA
- 3.6%
- Calculated from BLS data
- 2026 COLA
- 2.8%
- 10-year average
- 3.4%
- 2018 to 2027
- On a $2,000 monthly benefit
- +$72
- Before Medicare premiums
The 2027 figure is our calculation from the September 2026 CPI-W released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, using the formula in the Social Security Act. The Social Security Administration announces the official COLA and mails notices to beneficiaries. Our calculation matched every COLA the SSA announced through 2026.
COLA by year
2008 to 2027. Applies to benefits paid starting in January.
Every COLA
Third quarter CPI-W average compared with the last year that had a COLA
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| Year | COLA | Q3 CPI-W average | Compared with |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027Calculated | 3.6% | 328.746 | 317.265 |
| 2026 | 2.8% | 317.265 | 308.729 |
| 2025 | 2.5% | 308.729 | 301.236 |
| 2024 | 3.2% | 301.236 | 291.901 |
| 2023 | 8.7% | 291.901 | 268.421 |
| 2022 | 5.9% | 268.421 | 253.412 |
| 2021 | 1.3% | 253.412 | 250.200 |
| 2020 | 1.6% | 250.200 | 246.352 |
| 2019 | 2.8% | 246.352 | 239.668 |
| 2018 | 2.0% | 239.668 | 235.057 |
| 2017 | 0.3% | 235.057 | 234.242 |
| 2016 | 0.0% | 233.278 | 234.242 |
| 2015 | 1.7% | 234.242 | 230.327 |
| 2014 | 1.5% | 230.327 | 226.936 |
| 2013 | 1.7% | 226.936 | 223.233 |
| 2012 | 3.6% | 223.233 | 215.495 |
| 2011 | 0.0% | 214.136 | 215.495 |
| 2010 | 0.0% | 211.001 | 215.495 |
| 2009 | 5.8% | 215.495 | 203.596 |
| 2008 | 2.3% | 203.596 | 199.067 |
| 2007 | 3.3% | 199.067 | 192.700 |
| 2006 | 4.1% | 192.700 | 185.100 |
| 2005 | 2.7% | 185.100 | 180.300 |
| 2004 | 2.1% | 180.300 | 176.567 |
| 2003 | 1.4% | 176.567 | 174.133 |
| 2002 | 2.6% | 174.133 | 169.700 |
| 2001 | 3.5% | 169.700 | 163.933 |
| 2000 | 2.5% | 163.933 | 160.000 |
Frequently asked questions
- What is the Social Security COLA for 2027?
- 3.6%. This is calculated from BLS data with the Social Security Act formula. Check SSA.gov for the official announcement. The increase starts with benefits paid in January 2027.
- How is the COLA calculated?
- Take the average CPI-W for July, August and September. Divide it by the same average from the last year that had a COLA, subtract 1 and round to the nearest tenth of a percent. If the result is zero or less, there is no COLA that year.
- Does the COLA apply to SSI?
- Yes. The same percentage raises Supplemental Security Income payments and the SSI federal benefit rate.
- Why is my increase smaller than the COLA?
- Medicare Part B premiums are usually taken out of Social Security checks. A higher premium can use up part of the increase.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI-W (series CWUR0000SA0); formula from Section 215(i) of the Social Security Act