2027 Social Security COLA Calculator
TSCL estimate
3.5%
$0
+$0/mo
AARP estimate
3.6%
$0
+$0/mo
Your own estimate
$0
+$0/mo
These are unofficial estimates from The Senior Citizens League (TSCL, 3.5%) and AARP (3.6%), based on inflation data through August 2026 — not SSA figures. The actual 2027 Cost-of-Living Adjustment is calculated by the SSA from Q3 (Jul–Sep) CPI-W inflation data and won't be confirmed until the official announcement on October 14, 2026. Once that number is announced, this page will be updated with the confirmed rate. This is general information, not financial or benefits advice.
Free 2027 Social Security COLA calculator — enter your current benefit and compare TSCL's 3.5% and AARP's 3.6% pre-announcement estimates side by side, or enter your own percentage. Official SSA figure announces October 14, 2026.
How it works
- Enter your current monthly Social Security benefit
- See your estimated new monthly amount under TSCL's 3.5% estimate, AARP's 3.6% estimate, and your own custom percentage
- See the estimated extra dollars per year under your own estimate — all clearly marked as pre-announcement projections, not official SSA numbers
Frequently asked questions
When will the real 2027 COLA be announced?
The Social Security Administration is expected to announce the official 2027 COLA on October 14, 2026, based on Q3 (July–September) CPI-W inflation data. Until then, any percentage — including the ones in this calculator — is an outside estimate, not a confirmed figure.
Why do TSCL and AARP have different estimates?
Both groups build their projections from the same government inflation data (CPI-W) but publish updates as new monthly inflation reports come in, so their estimates can shift month to month and don't always match. TSCL's own estimate moved from 3.8% in June 2026 to 3.5% by August 2026 as new data arrived.
Is this the same as the official SSA benefit calculator?
No. This tool estimates a percentage increase on the benefit you already receive — it isn't a replacement for the SSA's own benefit-calculation tools, and it doesn't require a my Social Security account login.
What was the actual 2026 COLA, for comparison?
The confirmed 2026 COLA was 2.8%, raising the average retirement benefit by about $56/month. The 2027 estimates in this calculator (3.5–3.6%) would be a larger increase than that.
Related tools
From the blog
Update history
- 2026-10-03 Added links to related tools.
- 2026-09-22 Launched: 2027 Social Security COLA calculator comparing TSCL (3.5%) and AARP (3.6%) pre-announcement estimates plus a custom percentage, with a clear banner that the official SSA figure isn't confirmed until October 14, 2026. TODO (2026-10-14 or after): once SSA announces the real 2027 COLA, add it as a fourth "official" scenario and update this changelog + blog post — not automated, requires a manual one-line update.