Official COLA history · 1975–2026

Every Social Security COLA Since 1975

Compare the last 5 and 10 years of Social Security COLAs, then explore 51 official records since 1975, including zero-COLA years. Future estimates are excluded from the history and averages.

Updated September 12, 2026

Social Security COLA: last 5 and 10 years

These windows end with the latest official COLA in our history, not a future estimate. Years below identify when the increase first reached Social Security payments: for example, the December 2025 benefit increase arrived in January 2026.

Last 5 years: 2022–2026

4.62% average annual COLA

Official COLAs received in 2022–2026
Payment year	COLA
2026	2.8%
2025	2.5%
2024	3.2%
2023	8.7%
2022	5.9%

Illustrative cumulative increase: 25.18% across these 5 adjustments, before deductions and benefit rounding.

Last 10 years: 2017–2026

3.11% average annual COLA

Official COLAs received in 2017–2026
Payment year	COLA
2026	2.8%
2025	2.5%
2024	3.2%
2023	8.7%
2022	5.9%
2021	1.3%
2020	1.6%
2019	2.8%
2018	2.0%
2017	0.3%

Illustrative cumulative increase: 35.49% across these 10 adjustments, before deductions and benefit rounding.

Average COLA is not compound growth

The arithmetic average adds the annual percentages and divides by the number of records, including any 0% years. Cumulative growth multiplies (1 + COLA ÷ 100) for every record, then subtracts 1. Neither is a forecast or a guarantee of your net deposit.

Source: SSA COLA history by payment date and SSA historical adjustment series. Percentages checked September 12, 2026; averages calculated from the official records shown here.

Official Records511975–2026, including zero years

All-Time Highest14.3%1980 payment year

Zero-COLA Years32010, 2011, 2016

Lowest Non-Zero0.3%2017

All-Record Mean3.73%Arithmetic mean of 51 official records

How to read the historical COLA table

Benefit Month vs. Payment Year

Our table uses the Social Security payment year: June 1975–1982 increases arrived in July of the same year; December increases beginning in 1983 arrived in January of the next year. SSI payment timing can differ.

The Base Quarter Rule After Zero Years

After a zero-COLA year, the CPI-W comparison base can remain the third quarter of the last year a COLA was determined. For example, the increase received in 2012 compared Q3 2011 with Q3 2008, not Q3 2010.

Why 1983 Has No Row

There was a December 1983 COLA, received in January 1984. It appears in our 1984 row. The switch from June to December effective dates means no new COLA first reached Social Security payments during 1983; it is not a missing 0% record.

Official Social Security COLA history (1975–2026) by payment year; estimates excluded
Payment Year	COLA Percentage	Effective Benefit Month	Base Quarter	Comparison Quarter	Status & Notes
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

Historical percentage illustration

The Compounding Impact of Annual COLAs

Applying all 51 official records to an amount immediately before the 1975 COLA gives a multiplier of 6.35× through 2026. This is percentage compounding only, not an estimate of an individual's benefit or purchasing power.

Calculation: starting amount × the product of (1 + each COLA ÷ 100). No intermediate rounding is applied; displayed dollars are rounded to the nearest dollar. Medicare, taxes, benefit recomputations, and SSA rounding rules are not modeled.

Monthly amount before the 1975 COLA

Before 1975 COLA$1,000

→

Through 2026, illustrative amount$6,352+$5,352 cumulative increase

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.

Social Security AdministrationLatest Cost-of-Living AdjustmentPublished 2025-10-24 · Checked 2026-08-30 Social Security AdministrationCost-of-Living Adjustment InformationPublication date not stated · Checked 2026-08-31