Forecasts Project 2027 Social Security COLA Increase Mid-3%
Social Security benefit forecasts for 2027 suggest an increase between 3.5% and 3.6% pending final September inflation data.
Current projections for the 2027 Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) suggest a benefit increase in the mid-3% range. The Social Security Administration determines the final adjustment by averaging the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) readings from July, August, and September and comparing them to the same period from the previous year.
Estimates based on July and August data vary slightly among organizations. The Senior Citizens League and independent analyst Katarina Johnson-Thompson project a 3.5% increase, while AARP forecasts a 3.6% increase. A 3.5% adjustment would add approximately $70 per month to a $2,000 benefit, whereas a 3.6% increase would add $72.
The final COLA figure depends on September inflation data, which the Bureau of Labor Statistics is scheduled to release on October 14.
