Here's How Much the Average Social Security Benefit Is Expected to Grow Based on Current Estimates

Key Points The annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is meant to offset some effects of inflation. The official 2027 COLA will be announced on Oct. 14, and retirees will be keen to find out. Inflation is up because of much higher energy prices, such as gasoline and energy commodities. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › To help keep up with inflation, Social Security provides a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) that kicks in at the start of each year. It doesn't always keep up with real-world price increases, but it helps protect some of seniors' purchasing power. This year, the official COLA will be announced on Oct. 14, but with inflation data rolling in, organizations are refining their estimates.