A social security cola calculator applies the yearly cost-of-living adjustment to your monthly benefit so you can see the new amount and the yearly increase. Formula: New benefit = current benefit × (1 + COLA ÷ 100); yearly increase = monthly increase × 12. For 2027 the COLA is 3.6 percent, effective for December 2026 and paid starting with January 2027 benefits. A $1,900 monthly benefit rises by $68.40 to $1,968.40.
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How to use the social security cola calculator
- Enter your current monthly benefit before any Medicare premium is deducted.
- Keep the default 3.6% for 2027, or enter another COLA percent.
- Read the monthly increase, the new benefit and the increase over 12 months. The social security cola calculator shows all three at once.
What formula does the social security cola calculator use?
- Monthly increase = current benefit × COLA percent ÷ 100.
- New benefit = current benefit + monthly increase.
- Yearly increase = monthly increase × 12.
The social security cola calculator does not round the way Social Security does. SSA rounds benefits down to the dime in its own figures, and your notice can differ by a few cents.
Social security cola calculator worked example
Here is the 3.6% COLA applied to a few benefit levels:
| Benefit now | Monthly increase | Benefit in 2027 | Yearly increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,200 | $43.20 | $1,243.20 | $518.40 |
| $1,900 | $68.40 | $1,968.40 | $820.80 |
| $2,071 | $74.56 | $2,145.56 | $894.67 |
| $3,000 | $108.00 | $3,108.00 | $1,296.00 |
For comparison, the 2026 COLA was 2.8%, so the same $1,900 benefit went up by $53.20 a month in January 2026. Enter 2.8 to see last year’s change.
What the 2027 COLA covers
Social Security announced the 3.6% COLA on October 14, 2026, and the Federal Register notice of October 26, 2026 confirms it as an increase effective December 2026. Because the December benefit is paid in January, most people first see the higher amount in January 2027. Supplemental Security Income payments rise by the same percent, with the increase starting with December 31, 2026 payments.
The same notice sets other 2027 figures, such as the taxable maximum of $192,300. Those do not change your benefit directly, but they matter if you still work.
SSA says the average retirement benefit will rise by about $75 a month. By law the COLA is tied to the rise in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. People with a my Social Security account can see their own COLA notice online from late November, and paper notices arrive by mail in December.
Medicare premiums and your net check
If Part B is deducted from your check, the amount that lands in your bank account depends on the 2027 premium as well as the COLA. The social security cola calculator works on the gross benefit only, so subtract the Part B premium yourself once it is announced. SSA says 2027 Medicare premium amounts will appear in the my Social Security Message Center from late November. Until then, use the 2026 standard Part B premium of $202.90 as a placeholder. People with higher income may also pay an IRMAA surcharge, which the IRMAA calculator on this site estimates.
If you work while collecting benefits
If you are under full retirement age and still working, the earnings test can hold back part of your benefit. For 2027 the annual exempt amounts are $25,560 below full retirement age and $67,920 in the year you reach it. The COLA still applies to the benefit you are due, but the check you receive can be lower until you reach full retirement age.
Using the result for a budget
A COLA keeps benefits in line with the consumer price index used by SSA, but your own costs may rise faster or slower. Compare the yearly increase from the social security cola calculator with your own rent, insurance and grocery bills to see whether you are keeping up. If you also take withdrawals from savings, an inflation-adjusted plan treats both sources the same way.
Estimates for education only, not tax, legal or financial advice. Check current rules with the tax authority or a qualified adviser.
Related converters and calculators
Related calculators:
- Social Security calculator: benefit estimate
- Social Security break-even calculator: claiming age
- Inflation calculator: buying power
Sources
SSA: 2027 cost-of-living adjustment announcement; Federal Register: Cost-of-living increase and other determinations for 2027; SSA: Cost-of-living adjustment history.
Questions about this calculator
What is the Social Security COLA for 2027?
3.6 percent, announced on October 14, 2026, effective for December 2026 benefits paid in January 2027.
What was the COLA for 2026?
2.8 percent.
When will I see the 2027 increase?
Most people see it in the January 2027 payment. SSI recipients see it starting December 31, 2026.
Does the COLA apply to SSI?
Yes. SSI payments rise by the same 3.6 percent.
Why is my new benefit a few cents different?
SSA rounds benefits down to the dime, and Medicare premiums may be deducted.
Check the assumptions and units before relying on a result. Financial, tax and health estimates do not replace advice for your individual circumstances.
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