Every COLA since 1975
| Year determined | COLA | First paid |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3.6% | January 2027 |
| 2025 | 2.8% | January 2026 |
| 2024 | 2.5% | January 2025 |
| 2023 | 3.2% | January 2024 |
| 2022 | 8.7% | January 2023 |
| 2021 | 5.9% | January 2022 |
| 2020 | 1.3% | January 2021 |
| 2019 | 1.6% | January 2020 |
| 2018 | 2.8% | January 2019 |
| 2017 | 2.0% | January 2018 |
| 2016 | 0.3% | January 2017 |
| 2015 | 0.0% | January 2016 |
| 2014 | 1.7% | January 2015 |
| 2013 | 1.5% | January 2014 |
| 2012 | 1.7% | January 2013 |
| 2011 | 3.6% | January 2012 |
| 2010 | 0.0% | January 2011 |
| 2009 | 0.0% | January 2010 |
| 2008 | 5.8% | January 2009 |
| 2007 | 2.3% | January 2008 |
| 2006 | 3.3% | January 2007 |
| 2005 | 4.1% | January 2006 |
| 2004 | 2.7% | January 2005 |
| 2003 | 2.1% | January 2004 |
| 2002 | 1.4% | January 2003 |
| 2001 | 2.6% | January 2002 |
| 2000 | 3.5% | January 2001 |
| 1999 | 2.5% | January 2000 |
| 1998 | 1.3% | January 1999 |
| 1997 | 2.1% | January 1998 |
| 1996 | 2.9% | January 1997 |
| 1995 | 2.6% | January 1996 |
| 1994 | 2.8% | January 1995 |
| 1993 | 2.6% | January 1994 |
| 1992 | 3.0% | January 1993 |
| 1991 | 3.7% | January 1992 |
| 1990 | 5.4% | January 1991 |
| 1989 | 4.7% | January 1990 |
| 1988 | 4.0% | January 1989 |
| 1987 | 4.2% | January 1988 |
| 1986 | 1.3% | January 1987 |
| 1985 | 3.1% | January 1986 |
| 1984 | 3.5% | January 1985 |
| 1983 | 3.5% | January 1984 |
| 1982 | 7.4% | July 1982 |
| 1981 | 11.2% | July 1981 |
| 1980 | 14.3% | July 1980 |
| 1979 | 9.9% | July 1979 |
| 1978 | 6.5% | July 1978 |
| 1977 | 5.9% | July 1977 |
| 1976 | 6.4% | July 1976 |
| 1975 | 8.0% | July 1975 |
Social Security lists each COLA by the year it was determined. From 1975 to 1982 it took effect for June benefits, paid in July; since 1983 it takes effect for December benefits, paid in January. The 1999 COLA was set at 2.4% and later made 2.5% by Public Law 106-554.
How the COLA is set
It equals the rise in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from the third quarter of the last year with a COLA to the third quarter of the current year. If prices don't rise, there's no COLA. See what the 2027 raise means for you with the COLA 2027 calculator.
Cite this page
Retire Kept, "Social Security COLA History, 1975 to 2027," retirekept.com/social-security-cola-history/, updated November 7, 2026. Data: Social Security Administration, Office of the Chief Actuary.
The data are U.S. government works, free to reuse. A link back is appreciated.
Updated November 7, 2026. Sources: SSA Office of the Chief Actuary, Cost-of-Living Adjustments; Social Security Administration, the 2027 COLA Fact Sheet.