Overview
- March inflation hit 3.3% year over year, topping this year’s 2.8% Social Security cost‑of‑living adjustment and eroding purchasing power.
- The Senior Citizens League projects a 2.8% COLA for 2027, while other estimates range from about 1.2% to 2.8%, with the official figure due in October using third‑quarter CPI‑W data.
- Rising energy and oil costs tied to the conflict in Iran helped push prices higher, lifting gasoline and fuel costs and feeding broader price increases.
- The standard Medicare Part B premium rose to $202.90 in January, and the larger deduction from Social Security checks will offset part of any benefit increase.
- COLA changes are based on last year’s price data rather than current spikes, which can leave retirees—many living on modest monthly checks—struggling to keep up with essentials.