What changed: New estimates put the 2027 Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) at around 3.5%–3.6% — which would be the largest in three years. The official figure is announced in mid-October 2026, after September inflation data is released.
What it means if you moved here: The COLA applies to everyone who receives Social Security, citizen or not. What matters is that you qualified in the first place — if you earned your 40 work credits on an H-1B, a green card, or other work-authorized status, your check rises by the same percentage as everyone else’s.
The numbers
| 2027 COLA estimate | ~3.5%–3.6% (not yet official) |
| Official announcement | Mid-October 2026 [VERIFY exact date] |
| New amount starts | December 2026 benefit, paid January 2027 |
Why it’s still an estimate: The COLA is set by the change in the CPI-W index over the third quarter. Until September’s number is published, every figure you see is a projection, not the final one.
[Editor adds the human layer here before publishing.]
What to do next:
- Collecting benefits? Watch for the official announcement in mid-October; the new amount starts with the January payment.
- Unsure you qualify as a non-citizen? Check your work credits in your my Social Security account.
Source: SSA — Cost-of-Living Adjustment. Estimate reported September 2026; treat as provisional.
Estimate, not final — verify against the SSA announcement.
