Social Security COLA 2027: Mark this key date now as millions wait to see how big the COLA increase could be, how much their checks may rise and when higher payments begin

For millions of Americans, the next Social Security COLA announcement is more than another inflation statistic. It can shape the size of monthly checks throughout 2027. The Social Security Administration is expected to announce the 2027 Cost-of-Living Adjustment in October, with Oct. 14 currently identified as the key date. The announcement will follow the release of the July, August and September CPI-W data used in the calculation.

The timing matters because the 2027 Social Security COLA is not based on a simple inflation forecast. It comes from a specific formula tied to consumer prices. That distinction is important when early projections begin making headlines. Forecasts can move from one month to another before the government releases the final number.