Social Security cost-of-living adjustment forecast rises to 3.6 percent for 2027

Several groups forecast that Social Security payments will rise by 3.6 percent in 2027. AARP and the Senior Citizens League both published this estimate in September 2026, after reviewing August inflation figures. Independent analyst Mary Johnson put her forecast slightly higher, at 3.7 percent.

If the adjustment reaches 3.6 percent, the average retired worker will receive about $75 more each month, bringing their payment from roughly $2,071 to $2,146. That would be the biggest annual increase since 2023. The previous adjustment, in 2026, was 2.8 percent.

The official figure will be announced in mid-October 2026. More than 70 million Americans receive Social Security, and new payment amounts will begin in January 2027.