Applying for Social Security in 2026? 3 Things to Know About Your First Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Before 2027.

You're pretty new to Social Security, and while you may have gotten a few checks, there are still some things you're not sure about. For example, you know your benefits will get a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) next January, but you don't know what that'll look like. Truth be told, no one does until the Social Security Administration announces the official COLA later this year. But if you understand the following three things, you should have a rough idea of how your checks will change in 2027.

Applying for Social Security in 2026? 3 Things to Know About Your First Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Before 2027.. You're pretty new to Social Security, and while you may have gotten a few checks, there are still some things you're not sure about. For example, you know your benefits will get a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) next January, but you don't know what that'll look like. Truth be told, no one does until the Social Security Administration announces the official COLA later this year. But if you understand the following three things, you should have a rough idea of how your checks will change in 2027. 1. How the Social Security Administration calculates COLAs Social Security COLAs are linked to changes in average third-quarter inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)....