2027 COLA First Check Date Finder
Official 2027 Social Security COLA is not yet announced (as of Oct 12, 2026). After BLS releases September CPI-W (~Oct 14, 2026), SSA usually announces the percentage the same day. Use this tool to find when your first COLA-increased payment arrives — by birthday schedule — and how long until the announcement.
Consensus estimate until SSA announces. Drag 2.5%–4.5%.
Your first payment that includes the 2027 COLA:
Estimated increase until official COLA is published (not a guarantee):
2027 first COLA payment schedule
COLA applies to benefits for January 2027. SSI and some long-time recipients get that January payment early because January 1 is a federal holiday.
| Who | First COLA check |
|---|---|
| SSI only, SSI + Social Security, or benefits started before May 1997 | Thursday, Dec 31, 2026 |
| Birth day 1–10 | Wednesday, Jan 13, 2027 |
| Birth day 11–20 | Wednesday, Jan 20, 2027 |
| Birth day 21–31 | Wednesday, Jan 27, 2027 |
Source pattern: SSA Wednesday birthday schedule for January 2027; early Dec 31 payment when Jan 1 is a holiday (Kiplinger / SSA payment calendar).
FAQ
When will the 2027 COLA be announced?
Expected after the Bureau of Labor Statistics September CPI-W release around October 14, 2026 (8:30 a.m. ET). SSA typically posts the official percentage the same day or shortly after. Until then, any % on this page is an estimate only.
Does COLA change my payment date?
No. Your regular schedule stays the same. The first check that reflects the new amount is the January 2027 benefit payment (Dec 31 early for SSI / pre-May-1997; otherwise the Jan 13 / 20 / 27 Wednesday for your birth-day group).
Why Dec 31, 2026 for some people?
When the 1st of the month is a weekend or federal holiday, SSI (and Social Security that began before May 1997, including combined SSI) is paid on the prior business day. January 1, 2027 is a holiday, so that January benefit arrives Thursday, Dec 31, 2026.
Is the dollar increase official?
No until SSA announces. The slider defaults to a ~3.5% consensus-style estimate and lets you try 2.5%–4.5%. Average retired-worker benefit (~$2,087.52, Aug 2026 SSA snapshot) is only a convenient default — replace it with your own amount.
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