Official 50-Year Record

Every Social Security COLA Since 1975

51 cost-of-living adjustments from the enactment of automatic indexing to today. Compare historical inflation cycles, discover why zero-COLA years happened, and see the long-term power of annual compounding.

Total Adjustments511975 to 2026

All-Time Highest14.3%1980 (High inflation)

Zero-COLA Years32010, 2011, 2016

Lowest Non-Zero0.3%2017

50-Year Mean3.73%Historical annual average

Three Rules Most Published COLA Tables Get Wrong

Year Labels (Determined vs. Payable)

SSA’s internal actuary tables index adjustments by the year they were determined (e.g., October 2025). The public and payment checks label it by the year it actually arrives (January 2026). Our table uses the payable year you see on your check.

The Base Quarter Rule After Zero Years

When a COLA is 0.0% (like in 2010, 2011, and 2016), the statutory formula doesn’t compare against the immediate prior year. Instead, it compares against the last year an adjustment took effect (e.g. Q3 2008).

Why 1983 Has No Row

Prior to 1983, COLAs were effective in June. The bipartisan Social Security Amendments of 1983 shifted the effective date to December (payable in January), skipping calendar year 1983 to stabilize the trust funds.

Every Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment (1975–2027) by payable year
Payable Year	COLA Percentage	Effective Benefit Month	Base Quarter	Comparison Quarter	Status & Notes
2027	3.1%	December 2026	`Q3 2025`	`Q3 2026`	EstimateFlat-data projection
2026	2.8%	December 2025	`Q3 2024`	`Q3 2025`	Official
2025	2.5%	December 2024	`Q3 2023`	`Q3 2024`	Official
2024	3.2%	December 2023	`Q3 2022`	`Q3 2023`	Official
2023	8.7%	December 2022	`Q3 2021`	`Q3 2022`	OfficialHighest in 40+ years
2022	5.9%	December 2021	`Q3 2020`	`Q3 2021`	OfficialPost-pandemic surge
2021	1.3%	December 2020	`Q3 2019`	`Q3 2020`	Official
2020	1.6%	December 2019	`Q3 2018`	`Q3 2019`	Official
2019	2.8%	December 2018	`Q3 2017`	`Q3 2018`	Official
2018	2.0%	December 2017	`Q3 2016`	`Q3 2017`	Official
2017	0.3%	December 2016	`Q3 2014`	`Q3 2016`	OfficialLowest non-zero
2016	0.0%	December 2015	`Q3 2014`	`Q3 2015`	OfficialZero COLA year
2015	1.7%	December 2014	`Q3 2013`	`Q3 2014`	Official
2014	1.5%	December 2013	`Q3 2012`	`Q3 2013`	Official
2013	1.7%	December 2012	`Q3 2011`	`Q3 2012`	Official
2012	3.6%	December 2011	`Q3 2008`	`Q3 2011`	Official
2011	0.0%	December 2010	`Q3 2008`	`Q3 2010`	OfficialZero COLA year
2010	0.0%	December 2009	`Q3 2008`	`Q3 2009`	OfficialZero COLA year
2009	5.8%	December 2008	`Q3 2007`	`Q3 2008`	Official
2008	2.3%	December 2007	`Q3 2006`	`Q3 2007`	Official
2007	3.3%	December 2006	`Q3 2005`	`Q3 2006`	Official
2006	4.1%	December 2005	`Q3 2004`	`Q3 2005`	Official
2005	2.7%	December 2004	`Q3 2003`	`Q3 2004`	Official
2004	2.1%	December 2003	`Q3 2002`	`Q3 2003`	Official
2003	1.4%	December 2002	`Q3 2001`	`Q3 2002`	Official
2002	2.6%	December 2001	`Q3 2000`	`Q3 2001`	Official
2001	3.5%	December 2000	`Q3 1999`	`Q3 2000`	Official
2000	2.5%	December 1999	`Q3 1998`	`Q3 1999`	Official
1999	1.3%	December 1998	`Q3 1997`	`Q3 1998`	Official
1998	2.1%	December 1997	`Q3 1996`	`Q3 1997`	Official
1997	2.9%	December 1996	`Q3 1995`	`Q3 1996`	Official
1996	2.6%	December 1995	`Q3 1994`	`Q3 1995`	Official
1995	2.8%	December 1994	`Q3 1993`	`Q3 1994`	Official
1994	2.6%	December 1993	`Q3 1992`	`Q3 1993`	Official
1993	3.0%	December 1992	`Q3 1991`	`Q3 1992`	Official
1992	3.7%	December 1991	`Q3 1990`	`Q3 1991`	Official
1991	5.4%	December 1990	`Q3 1989`	`Q3 1990`	Official
1990	4.7%	December 1989	`Q3 1988`	`Q3 1989`	Official
1989	4.0%	December 1988	`Q3 1987`	`Q3 1988`	Official
1988	4.2%	December 1987	`Q3 1986`	`Q3 1987`	Official
1987	1.3%	December 1986	`Q3 1985`	`Q3 1986`	Official
1986	3.1%	December 1985	`Q3 1984`	`Q3 1985`	Official
1985	3.5%	December 1984	`Q3 1983`	`Q3 1984`	Official
1984	3.5%	December 1983	`Q1 1982`	`Q1 1983`	OfficialFirst December adjustment
1982	7.4%	June 1982	`Q1 1981`	`Q1 1982`	Official
1981	11.2%	June 1981	`Q1 1980`	`Q1 1981`	OfficialDouble-digit inflation
1980	14.3%	June 1980	`Q1 1979`	`Q1 1980`	OfficialAll-time record high
1979	9.9%	June 1979	`Q1 1978`	`Q1 1979`	Official
1978	6.5%	June 1978	`Q1 1977`	`Q1 1978`	Official
1977	5.9%	June 1977	`Q1 1976`	`Q1 1977`	Official
1976	6.4%	June 1976	`Q1 1975`	`Q1 1976`	Official
1975	8.0%	June 1975	`Q2 1974`	`Q1 1975`	OfficialFirst automatic COLA

50-Year Long-Term Power

The Compounding Impact of Annual COLAs

Social Security adjustments don’t just add a fixed dollar amount — they compound every single year on top of all previous raises. A benefit started in 1975 has multiplied more than 6.2x over time.

1975 Starting Monthly Benefit

1975 Benefit$1,000

→

2026 Compounded Benefit$6,297+$5,297 total raise

Calculate Your 2027 Raise Track 2027 CPI-W Numbers

Transparency

Sources behind these numbers

Every important figure links back to the government publication that produced it.

U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsJuly 2026 Consumer Price IndexPublished 2026-08-12 · Checked 2026-08-30 Social Security AdministrationLatest Cost-of-Living AdjustmentPublished 2025-10-24 · Checked 2026-08-30 Social Security AdministrationHow the Hold-Harmless Provision Protects Your BenefitsPublished 2020-11-30 · Checked 2026-08-30 Social Security AdministrationPOMS HI 01001.004: Variable Part B PremiumPublished 2023-02-02 · Checked 2026-08-30 Social Security AdministrationSchedule of Social Security PaymentsPublication date not stated · Checked 2026-08-30 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2026 Consumer Price Index Release SchedulePublished 2026-02-18 · Checked 2026-08-30