Social Security COLA history
Official COLA percentages by the year beneficiaries generally receive the increased January payment.
COLA Benefit labels recent adjustments by the year beneficiaries generally receive the increased January payment. SSA’s underlying COLA series may reference the preceding determination/effective year. We do not blindly add one year to every series row.
From 1975 through 1982, COLAs were generally payable for June of the SSA series year. Later rules changed. Modern COLAs are effective with December benefits and are normally seen in January payments.
Recent official COLA percentages by benefit payment year
Benefit payment year
2026
- COLA
- 2.8%
- Source / reference
- SSA series year 2025
Benefit payment year
2025
- COLA
- 2.5%
- Source / reference
- SSA series year 2024
Benefit payment year
2024
- COLA
- 3.2%
- Source / reference
- SSA series year 2023
Benefit payment year
2023
- COLA
- 8.7%
- Source / reference
- SSA series year 2022
Benefit payment year
2022
- COLA
- 5.9%
- Source / reference
- SSA series year 2021
Benefit payment year
2021
- COLA
- 1.3%
- Source / reference
- SSA series year 2020
Benefit payment year
2020
- COLA
- 1.6%
- Source / reference
- SSA series year 2019
Benefit payment year
2019
- COLA
- 2.8%
- Source / reference
- SSA series year 2018
Benefit payment year
2018
- COLA
- 2.0%
- Source / reference
- SSA series year 2017
Benefit payment year
2017
- COLA
- 0.3%
- Source / reference
- SSA series year 2016
Benefit payment year
2016
- COLA
- 0.0%
- Source / reference
- SSA series year 2015
Benefit payment year
2015
- COLA
- 1.7%
- Source / reference
- SSA series year 2014
Benefit payment year
2014
- COLA
- 1.5%
- Source / reference
- SSA series year 2013
Benefit payment year
2013
- COLA
- 1.7%
- Source / reference
- SSA series year 2012
Benefit payment year
2012
- COLA
- 3.6%
- Source / reference
- SSA series year 2011
| Benefit payment year | COLA | Source / reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2.8% | SSA series year 2025 |
| 2025 | 2.5% | SSA series year 2024 |
| 2024 | 3.2% | SSA series year 2023 |
| 2023 | 8.7% | SSA series year 2022 |
| 2022 | 5.9% | SSA series year 2021 |
| 2021 | 1.3% | SSA series year 2020 |
| 2020 | 1.6% | SSA series year 2019 |
| 2019 | 2.8% | SSA series year 2018 |
| 2018 | 2.0% | SSA series year 2017 |
| 2017 | 0.3% | SSA series year 2016 |
| 2016 | 0.0% | SSA series year 2015 |
| 2015 | 1.7% | SSA series year 2014 |
| 2014 | 1.5% | SSA series year 2013 |
| 2013 | 1.7% | SSA series year 2012 |
| 2012 | 3.6% | SSA series year 2011 |
Full official SSA COLA series (1975–present)
Percentages are stored as SSA published them. Series year is the source year; benefit-payment year is a presentation label only.
Official SSA COLA series with source year
SSA series year
1975
- COLA
- 8.0%
- Note
- Effective June 1975.
SSA series year
1976
- COLA
- 6.4%
- Note
- Effective June 1976.
SSA series year
1977
- COLA
- 5.9%
- Note
- —
SSA series year
1978
- COLA
- 6.5%
- Note
- —
SSA series year
1979
- COLA
- 9.9%
- Note
- —
SSA series year
1980
- COLA
- 14.3%
- Note
- —
SSA series year
1981
- COLA
- 11.2%
- Note
- —
SSA series year
1982
- COLA
- 7.4%
- Note
- —
SSA series year
1983
- COLA
- 3.5%
- Note
- Effective December 1983 thereafter.
SSA series year
1984
- COLA
- 3.5%
- Note
- —
SSA series year
1985
- COLA
- 3.1%
- Note
- —
SSA series year
1986
- COLA
- 1.3%
- Note
- —
SSA series year
1987
- COLA
- 4.2%
- Note
- —
SSA series year
1988
- COLA
- 4.0%
- Note
- —
SSA series year
1989
- COLA
- 4.7%
- Note
- —
SSA series year
1990
- COLA
- 5.4%
- Note
- —
SSA series year
1991
- COLA
- 3.7%
- Note
- —
SSA series year
1992
- COLA
- 3.0%
- Note
- —
SSA series year
1993
- COLA
- 2.6%
- Note
- —
SSA series year
1994
- COLA
- 2.8%
- Note
- —
SSA series year
1995
- COLA
- 2.6%
- Note
- —
SSA series year
1996
- COLA
- 2.9%
- Note
- —
SSA series year
1997
- COLA
- 2.1%
- Note
- —
SSA series year
1998
- COLA
- 1.3%
- Note
- —
SSA series year
1999
- COLA
- 2.5%
- Note
- Originally 2.4%; Public Law 106-554 made this COLA 2.5%.
SSA series year
2000
- COLA
- 3.5%
- Note
- —
SSA series year
2001
- COLA
- 2.6%
- Note
- —
SSA series year
2002
- COLA
- 1.4%
- Note
- —
SSA series year
2003
- COLA
- 2.1%
- Note
- —
SSA series year
2004
- COLA
- 2.7%
- Note
- —
SSA series year
2005
- COLA
- 4.1%
- Note
- —
SSA series year
2006
- COLA
- 3.3%
- Note
- —
SSA series year
2007
- COLA
- 2.3%
- Note
- —
SSA series year
2008
- COLA
- 5.8%
- Note
- —
SSA series year
2009
- COLA
- 0.0%
- Note
- No COLA.
SSA series year
2010
- COLA
- 0.0%
- Note
- No COLA.
SSA series year
2011
- COLA
- 3.6%
- Note
- —
SSA series year
2012
- COLA
- 1.7%
- Note
- —
SSA series year
2013
- COLA
- 1.5%
- Note
- —
SSA series year
2014
- COLA
- 1.7%
- Note
- —
SSA series year
2015
- COLA
- 0.0%
- Note
- No COLA.
SSA series year
2016
- COLA
- 0.3%
- Note
- —
SSA series year
2017
- COLA
- 2.0%
- Note
- —
SSA series year
2018
- COLA
- 2.8%
- Note
- —
SSA series year
2019
- COLA
- 1.6%
- Note
- —
SSA series year
2020
- COLA
- 1.3%
- Note
- —
SSA series year
2021
- COLA
- 5.9%
- Note
- —
SSA series year
2022
- COLA
- 8.7%
- Note
- —
SSA series year
2023
- COLA
- 3.2%
- Note
- —
SSA series year
2024
- COLA
- 2.5%
- Note
- —
SSA series year
2025
- COLA
- 2.8%
- Note
- This is the 2.8% increase that applies to benefits paid in 2026.
| SSA series year | COLA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 8.0% | Effective June 1975. |
| 1976 | 6.4% | Effective June 1976. |
| 1977 | 5.9% | — |
| 1978 | 6.5% | — |
| 1979 | 9.9% | — |
| 1980 | 14.3% | — |
| 1981 | 11.2% | — |
| 1982 | 7.4% | — |
| 1983 | 3.5% | Effective December 1983 thereafter. |
| 1984 | 3.5% | — |
| 1985 | 3.1% | — |
| 1986 | 1.3% | — |
| 1987 | 4.2% | — |
| 1988 | 4.0% | — |
| 1989 | 4.7% | — |
| 1990 | 5.4% | — |
| 1991 | 3.7% | — |
| 1992 | 3.0% | — |
| 1993 | 2.6% | — |
| 1994 | 2.8% | — |
| 1995 | 2.6% | — |
| 1996 | 2.9% | — |
| 1997 | 2.1% | — |
| 1998 | 1.3% | — |
| 1999 | 2.5% | Originally 2.4%; Public Law 106-554 made this COLA 2.5%. |
| 2000 | 3.5% | — |
| 2001 | 2.6% | — |
| 2002 | 1.4% | — |
| 2003 | 2.1% | — |
| 2004 | 2.7% | — |
| 2005 | 4.1% | — |
| 2006 | 3.3% | — |
| 2007 | 2.3% | — |
| 2008 | 5.8% | — |
| 2009 | 0.0% | No COLA. |
| 2010 | 0.0% | No COLA. |
| 2011 | 3.6% | — |
| 2012 | 1.7% | — |
| 2013 | 1.5% | — |
| 2014 | 1.7% | — |
| 2015 | 0.0% | No COLA. |
| 2016 | 0.3% | — |
| 2017 | 2.0% | — |
| 2018 | 2.8% | — |
| 2019 | 1.6% | — |
| 2020 | 1.3% | — |
| 2021 | 5.9% | — |
| 2022 | 8.7% | — |
| 2023 | 3.2% | — |
| 2024 | 2.5% | — |
| 2025 | 2.8% | This is the 2.8% increase that applies to benefits paid in 2026. |
What was the 2026 COLA?
2.8%.
What is the highest official COLA in SSA's series since 1975?
14.3% in 1980.
Formula · 2026 COLA · 2027 hub
Compounding published COLAs is illustrative only. It is not an SSA benefit determination.