Social Security's 2027 COLA Could Well Outpace This Year's Raise. Here's How Helpful It Might Actually Be.

Key Points Current estimates point to a more generous Social Security COLA in the new year than this year's 2.8% increase. Larger COLAs mean higher levels of inflation, and there's no separating the two. Seniors need to be realistic about what COLAs can and can't do for their finances. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › When a 2.8% Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) hit retirees' paychecks this past January, many recipients were underwhelmed. And that's understandable. While a 2.8% COLA isn't stingy in its own right, that boost came at a time when the cost of Medicare Part B rose $17.90 per month compared to the previous year.