What will the 2027 COLA be?

It is not announced yet. It will equal the rise in the CPI-W from the third quarter of 2025 to the third quarter of 2026.

Does SSI get the same COLA?

Yes, federal SSI payment levels rise by the same percentage.

Tax numbersBenefits paid in 2026 and 2025SSA

Social Security COLA 2026

Social Security benefits rose 2.8% in January 2026, after 2.5% in 2025. The 2027 COLA has not been announced yet.

2025FinalFor returns filed in 2026. SSA: 2.5% effective December 2024.

2026Current yearFor returns filed in 2027. SSA: 2.8% effective December 2025.

2027Not yet publishedNot published as of 9 October 2026. The 2027 COLA will be announced by SSA once the July to September consumer price index (CPI-W) is in. Until then, plan with the 2026 figures on this page.

Social Security cost-of-living adjustmentsAlso applies to Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Benefits paid in	COLA	Effective with benefits for
2026	2.8%	December 2025
2025	2.5%	December 2024
2024	3.2%	December 2023
2023	8.7%	December 2022
2022	5.9%	December 2021
2021	1.3%	December 2020
2020	1.6%	December 2019
2019	2.8%	December 2018
2018	2.0%	December 2017
2017	0.3%	December 2016

Source: Social Security Administration, History of automatic cost-of-living adjustments

What the 2026 COLA means for your check

Your monthly benefit before the 2026 increase

Your monthly benefit from January 2026

About $56.00 more a month, or $672 over a year, from the 2.8% COLA.

An estimate. SSA applies the COLA to your primary insurance amount and rounds down to the dime, then rounds the payment down to the dollar; Medicare Part B premiums deducted from the check also change each January. Your SSA letter shows the exact amount.

Twenty years of COLAs

The 2026 increase (2.8%) compares with an average of 2.5% over the last 20 years

Cost-of-living adjustment, percent, by the year the higher benefits were first paid (January).

Source: Social Security Administration, History of automatic cost-of-living adjustments

How the COLA is set

The COLA equals the rise in the consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers (CPI-W) from the July–September average of the previous year to the July–September average of this year, rounded to the nearest tenth of a percent. For 2026: the third-quarter 2025 average CPI-W was 317.265, 2.8% above 308.729 a year earlier (SSA). If prices do not rise there is no COLA: benefits did not increase in 2010, 2011 or 2016.

Questions and answers

What is the Social Security COLA for 2026?: 2.8%, paid from January 2026.
What will the 2027 COLA be?: It is not announced yet. It will equal the rise in the CPI-W from the third quarter of 2025 to the third quarter of 2026.
Does SSI get the same COLA?: Yes, federal SSI payment levels rise by the same percentage.

Social Security wage base$184,500
Tax brackets37% from $640,600
Standard deduction$16,100 single
Capital gains brackets0% to $49,450 single
401(k) limits$24,500
Your federal tax receiptwhere your tax goes
State income tax calculators50 states and DC
All tax numbers2025 and 2026

Sources

Social Security Administration, Latest cost-of-living adjustment.
Social Security Administration, History of automatic cost-of-living adjustments.
Social Security Administration, 2025 Social Security changes (fact sheet).
Every figure on this page was checked against the documents above by an automated test on 9 October 2026. Status of 2027 figures checked on 9 October 2026 (IRS newsroom and SSA). Page built 2026-10-09.