Social Security Sets October 14 Date for 2027 COLA With Mid‑3% Forecast
Medicare premium decisions in November could cut or erase beneficiaries’ net gains from the adjustment starting in January 2027.
Overview
- The Social Security Administration will announce the official 2027 cost‑of‑living adjustment on October 14, 2026 using the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ September CPI‑W data to finalize the figure.
- Independent trackers currently cluster the likely increase in the mid‑3% range, with the Senior Citizens League projecting about 3.6% and analyst Mary Johnson estimating about 3.4%.
- Forecasters had earlier floated estimates as high as 3.8%, showing how swings in monthly inflation readings pushed projections lower over the summer.
- Medicare Part B and D premium rules set in November, plus income‑related Medicare surcharges, are normally deducted from Social Security checks and can partly or fully offset the headline COLA.
- Once set the COLA is effective for December and payable in January without any application, but the CPI‑W does not track senior spending exactly so a mid‑3% rise may not restore retirees’ real buying power.