The Senior Citizens' League projects a 3.8% Social Security cost-of-living adjustment for 2027
The Senior Citizens' League has issued a forecast predicting a 3.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for Social Security benefits in 2027. This projected increase would raise the average monthly retirement benefit to approximately $2,163, providing a modest boost to help recipients keep pace with inflation. While the administration announced that the official figure will be finalized in October, current estimates from various advocacy groups suggest a moderate range of increases. Advocates argue that the current calculation method, based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), may not fully reflect the spending habits of older adults. The Senior Citizens' League has urged Congress and the president to adopt the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly (CPI-E), which places a higher weight on categories like healthcare and housing. Experts note that while the CPI-E generally increases faster than the CPI-W, it is still considered an experimental metric. The administration announced that the 2027 COLA will be applied to the base benefit of all eligible recipients, including those receiving disability benefits and Supplemental Security Income.