Key Takeaways Social Security beneficiaries receive an annual cost-of-living adjustment to their payments, known as a COLA. The COLA is based on a measure of the rate of inflation. The Social Security COLA will be 2.8% in 2026, and early estimates place the 2027 COLA at between 2.4% and 3%. Factors such as the job market, tax cuts and Congressional changes could impact the final COLA amount. Each year, Social Security beneficiaries receive a cost-of-living adjustment, known as a COLA.