Key Points

The Social Security Administration plans to release the cost-of-living adjustment in mid-October.
Individualized COLA statements will reach beneficiaries during December.
Initial payments reflecting the 2027 COLA are scheduled for mid-to-late January.

With only a few months remaining until the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment announcement for 2027, recipients who count on these benefits should prepare for changes that will affect their monthly income. The adjustment determines how much purchasing power the payments will carry and how much additional personal funds may be required to meet expenses.

Those who monitor COLA developments will find value in noting four upcoming milestones.

1. July and August CPI release dates

COLAs rely on inflation figures from July, August, and September compared with the prior year. Data for 2025 is already available, yet 2026 numbers will arrive mid-month following each period. The July reading is set for release on August 12, 2026, while the August figure follows on September 11, 2026. These releases will provide an early indication of the likely size of the 2027 adjustment.

2. The COLA announcement

Once the September inflation data appears on October 14, 2026, the Social Security Administration will issue the official COLA figure early that morning. Beneficiaries can then apply the percentage to current payments for an estimate of next year's amounts.

3. Personalized COLA notices

Early in December the agency will send tailored statements to every recipient. The same details will be viewable online through My Social Security accounts. Each notice will specify exact 2027 payment amounts and, for those enrolled in Medicare, the Part B premium deductions.

4. The first payment dates with the new COLA

Payment timing generally follows birth dates. The initial checks that include the 2027 COLA are expected as follows: individuals born on the 1st through the 10th receive payment on January 13, 2027; those born on the 11th through the 20th receive payment on January 20, 2027; and those born on the 21st through the 31st receive payment on January 27, 2027. Recipients who began benefits before May 1997 or who receive Supplemental Security Income will instead see the updated amount on December 31, 2026, because January 3 falls on a Sunday and the preceding business day is the last day of 2026.

Questions about the 2027 COLA may be directed to the Social Security Administration after the announcement, either by phone or through a scheduled local office visit.