Social Security Has a Key Date to Announce the 2027 Increase: Retirees Take Note

Millions of Social Security beneficiaries can already mark an important date on their calendars: October 14, 2026, when the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2027 will be known.

On that day, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) will release the September inflation report, the final piece of data needed to calculate how much benefits will increase next year.

• Why it matters: The COLA determines the annual increase retirees, people with disabilities and other beneficiaries receive to help offset the impact of inflation on their income.

Social Security COLA 2027 Increase Will Be Known on October 14

The Social Security Administration (SSA) confirms that the next COLA will be announced in October 2026. The official BLS calendar makes it possible to pinpoint when the final data needed for the calculation will be available.

• The calculation uses the CPI-W for July, August and September and compares the average for those three months with the same period a year earlier.
• July already provided the first clue: the CPI-W rose 3.4% year over year. The next figure will arrive on September 11, when the BLS releases August inflation data.

After that, beneficiaries will have to wait until October 14 for the September figure, which will complete the formula.

Retirees Could Receive About $73 More Per Month — Will It Be Enough?

Although there is no official percentage yet, AARP currently projects a Social Security COLA 2027 of about 3.5%, higher than the 2.8% increase applied in 2026.

• With an average benefit of about $2,086 per month, that percentage would represent approximately $73 more each month, bringing the payment to around $2,159.
• For a beneficiary currently receiving $1,500 per month, a 3.5% increase would mean about $52.50 more; for someone receiving $2,500, it would amount to roughly $87.50 more.

However, these amounts are only examples. The final percentage will depend on how inflation changes during August and September.

When the New Social Security Benefit Will Begin

Once the COLA is announced, beneficiaries will not need to apply for the increase.

• The new adjustment will automatically take effect with Social Security benefits paid in January 2027.

For now, attention will first turn to September 11 and then to October 14, when millions of retirees will finally learn how much their checks will increase in 2027 under the Social Security COLA 2027.

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