2027 Social Security COLA Expected to Land at 3.5% to 3.6%, One of the Biggest in Years

The 2027 Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is expected to land in the 3.5% to 3.6% range, based on inflation readings to date, according to TheStreet. The Social Security Administration is expected to make it official on Oct. 14. The 2026 COLA came in at 2.8%.
Since 2010, only four COLAs have surpassed 3%:
- 2012: 3.6%
- 2022: 5.9%
- 2023: 8.7%
- 2024: 3.2%
COLAs are pegged to third-quarter changes in the CPI-W. The Senior Citizens League reports that Social Security benefits have lost 13.7% of their buying power over the past decade.
The article notes that the extra $70 or $80 a month may be absorbed by higher prices for gas, groceries, and medications. A large Medicare Part B premium hike could also eat into the increase, though Medicare probably won't announce the standard Part B premium for several weeks after the COLA announcement.