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Social Security's 2027 cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, will be announced Wednesday, October 14, 2026. Here's when the number comes out, the latest estimate, when the raise reaches your check, and how Medicare fits in.
📋Quick Summary
- The 2027 COLA is expected Wednesday, October 14, 2026, after September inflation data comes out at 8:30 a.m. Eastern.
- The latest estimate is 3.5 percent, about $73 a month on the average retirement check. That's an estimate, not the official number.
- The COLA starts with benefits payable in January.
- Medicare's trustees project the standard Part B premium at $209.50 a month in 2027, up $6.60. CMS usually announces the official premium in mid-November.
- We'll update this page with the official COLA on October 14.
When the 2027 COLA Is Announced
The Bureau of Labor Statistics releases September's Consumer Price Index on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern. Social Security uses that report to set the COLA, and the new number is expected the same morning.
The COLA is tied to an inflation measure called CPI-W. In the 12 months through August, CPI-W was up 3.5 percent.
These numbers are estimates. The 3.5 percent COLA and the $209.50 premium in this article are projections, not official figures. We'll update this page with Social Security's official COLA on October 14.
What the Latest Estimate Says
The Senior Citizens League estimates a 3.5 percent COLA for 2027, as reported by The Motley Fool. That would be bigger than the 2.8 percent raise for 2026.
On the average retired-worker benefit of $2,083 a month, 3.5 percent works out to about $73 more each month.
Your raise depends on your own check. To estimate it, multiply your monthly benefit before deductions by the COLA. A $1,500 benefit at 3.5 percent would go up about $52.50.
Related Medicare Updates
When the Raise Reaches Your Check
Each year's COLA starts with benefits payable in January. The 2026 raise began with benefits payable in January 2026, and the 2027 raise is expected to follow the same schedule.
Social Security will post the official 2027 number on its COLA page.
The amount that actually lands in your bank account depends on what's taken out first. For most people on Medicare, that's the Part B premium.
How Medicare Fits In
The standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month in 2026. The 2026 Medicare Trustees Report projects $209.50 for 2027, an increase of $6.60 a month. CMS usually announces the official premium in mid-November.
A rule called hold harmless keeps most people's Social Security check from going down because of a Part B increase. Medicare's trustees estimate that about 30 percent of Part B enrollees aren't covered by it, including people new to Part B, people who don't get Social Security checks, and higher-income people who pay IRMAA.
For the full math on how much of a typical raise Part B takes, see our breakdown, Will Your 2027 Social Security Raise Beat Medicare's Increase?
What about the $90 payment? The Medicare Improvement Fund rebate is going to about 20.8 million eligible people in Original Medicare this month. CMS describes it as a single $90 payment to offset the October 2026 premium. It's separate from the 2027 premium.
✅What This Means For You
If Part B comes out of your Social Security: Your January deposit will reflect both the raise and the 2027 Part B premium, so budget around the net amount, not the COLA percentage.
If you pay IRMAA: Hold harmless doesn't cover you, so a Part B increase isn't limited by the size of your raise. Our IRMAA guide explains the income brackets.
If you're new to Medicare: Hold harmless doesn't apply to people new to Part B, so you'll pay the standard 2027 premium once CMS announces it.
If you're comparing plans: Open Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, and drug plan and Medicare Advantage premiums can change for 2027 too. Check your plan's Annual Notice of Change.
Explore Further
Common questions about the 2027 COLA announcement
- When will the 2027 COLA be announced?
- On Wednesday, October 14, 2026. The Bureau of Labor Statistics releases September inflation data early that morning, Eastern time, and Social Security is expected to announce the COLA the same day.
- What time is the COLA announced?
- The September inflation report that sets the COLA is scheduled for half past eight in the morning, Eastern time. Social Security is expected to announce the COLA that morning.
- How big will the 2027 COLA be?
- The latest estimate from The Senior Citizens League is 3.5 percent. That's an estimate. The official number comes out October 14, and we'll update this page when it does.
- When will I see the 2027 raise in my check?
- The COLA starts with benefits payable in January. The 2026 raise began with January 2026 benefits, and the 2027 raise is expected to follow the same schedule.
- What will the 2027 Part B premium be?
- It hasn't been announced. The 2026 Medicare Trustees Report projects $209.50 a month, up from $202.90 in 2026. CMS usually announces the official premium in mid-November.
