Millions of Social Security beneficiaries will learn Wednesday how much their monthly checks could rise in 2027 when the Social Security Administration announces its annual cost-of-living adjustment.
Current forecasts project a COLA between 3.4% and 3.6%, larger than the 2.8% increase recipients received in 2026. A COLA in that range would add roughly $70 a month to the average retired worker's benefit, though actual increases vary by recipient.
How much bigger could Social Security checks get next year? Here's what to know ahead of Wednesday's announcement.
When will the 2027 Social Security COLA be announced?
October 14 is the expected SSA announcement date for the 2027 COLA.
How much could Social Security benefits increase in 2027?
Current forecasts for the 2027 COLA range from 3.4% to 3.6%. The Senior Citizens League projects a 3.6% increase, while AARP
estimates 3.5%. USA TODAY reports retirees could see a 3.4% increase, compared to the 2.8% COLA beneficiaries received in 2026.
Here are the average estimated monthly increases under a 3.6% COLA, according to The Motley Fool:
- Retired workers: $75 in additional monthly income
- Spouses: $36
- Survivors: $59
- Disabled workers: $59
A larger COLA in 2027 may help retirees offset higher costs for housing, health care and transportation.
How Social Security COLA is determined every year
According to the Social Security Administration, the agency calculates COLA using inflation data from the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, or CPI-W.
The 2027 COLA is based on inflation measured during July, August and September 2026. Higher inflation during those months generally results in a larger benefit increase. Inflation on all goods was up 3.4% year-over-year in August 2026, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Upcoming Social Security and SSI payment dates
Most Social Security payments are sent on Wednesdays based on the recipient's birth date, according to the SSA's payment calendar.
- Birth dates between the 1st and 10th: Second Wednesday of the month
- Birth dates between the 11th and 20th: Third Wednesday of the month
- Birth dates after the 20th: Fourth Wednesday of the month
These are the dates for SSI payments for 2026:
- Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026 (Check for October 2026)
- Friday, Oct. 30, 2026 (Check for November 2026)
- Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2026 (Check for December 2026)
- Friday, Dec. 31, 2026 (Check for January 2027)
Why are there two SSI payments in October?
The schedule shift happens due to a calendar quirk with Nov. 1 falling on a Sunday. Since SSI benefits aren't paid on weekends, the SSA will send November's payment on Oct. 30 instead. The early payment means SSI recipients won't get another check until December 1.
SSI payments typically arrive on the first of each month unless it's a federal holiday or a weekend.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: When will Social Security COLA be announced? How big the increase may be
