Social Security's Trump Bump-Led 2027 COLA Is the 5th-Largest in 35 Years, but It's a Genuine Threat to the Program's Solvency

Social Security announced a 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2027, the fifth-largest raise in 35 years, driven partly by President Trump's tariff and trade policies that have elevated inflation. While beneficiaries will see increased monthly payments, the larger-than-normal COLA accelerates the depletion of the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance trust fund, potentially advancing the timeline for significant benefit cuts from 2032 to an earlier date.