Here’s the projected Social Security COLA for 2027, according to AARP

Updated on: September 11, 2026 / 11:59 AM EDT / CBS News

Stubbornly hot inflation in August could push up the 2027 cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security recipients, according to a new estimate from AARP.

The 2027 COLA is now projected at 3.6%, based on the August Consumer Price Index figures released on Wednesday, according to the advocacy group. AARP had forecast a 3.5% increase a month ago.

Other groups are forecasting a slightly lower COLA, with the Senior Citizens League, an advocacy group for older Americans, projecting a 3.5% adjustment, down from its prior estimate of 3.6%.

A benefit increase of 3.6% would represent the biggest annual adjustment in Social Security payments since 2023. The program's more than 70 million recipients rely on the annual cost-of-living adjustment to ensure their benefits keep up with inflation, although some critics say the measure has failed to offset the price pressures facing older Americans and people with disabilities, including rising healthcare costs.

"No matter if the COLA announcement comes in slightly higher or slightly lower than our prediction, seniors will probably end up disappointed in the long run," said Shannon Benton, executive director of the Senior Citizens League, in a statement. "The…

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