Social Security and SSI benefits will rise 3.6% in 2027, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced on October 14. The cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) lifts the average retired worker's check by about $75 a month, from $2,095 to $2,170, starting in January.
That is the largest COLA since 2023, when benefits rose 8.7%, and it follows 2.8% this year. But Medicare premiums will take part of the raise for most retirees. Here is what the new number means for your check, the other 2027 changes, the payment dates and how to work out your own increase.
The 2027 COLA: average increases
Beneficiary group | Average benefit now | Average from January | Monthly increase |
|---|---|---|---|
Retired worker | $2,095 | $2,170 | About $75 |
Widow or widower | $1,936 | $2,005 | About $69 |
Disabled worker (SSDI) | $1,642 | $1,701 | About $59 |
The raise is automatic for everyone who gets Social Security or SSI, which covers nearly 72 million Social Security beneficiaries and about 7.3 million SSI recipients. SSA calculates the COLA from the average rise in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from the third quarter of the previous year to the third quarter of this year. Higher energy prices after the outbreak of the Iran war helped push this year's figure up.
Work out your own raise
Multiply your current monthly benefit by 1.036. SSA will also send your exact new amount in a notice later this year.
Current monthly benefit | After 3.6% COLA | Increase |
|---|---|---|
$1,000 | $1,036 | $36 |
$1,500 | $1,554 | $54 |
$2,000 | $2,072 | $72 |
$2,500 | $2,590 | $90 |
$3,000 | $3,108 | $108 |
$4,000 | $4,144 | $144 |
How much of the raise Medicare takes
Most people on Medicare have the Part B premium deducted from their Social Security check, so the premium increase reduces the net raise.
Medicare cost | 2026 | 2027 (projected) |
|---|---|---|
Standard Part B premium | $202.90 a month | $209.50 a month (+$6.60) |
Part B annual deductible | $283 | About $292 |
Part D annual deductible | $615 | $700 |
Part D out-of-pocket cap | $2,100 | $2,400 |
The Part B figures are projections from the 2026 Medicare Trustees Report, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services typically confirms the official amounts in November. The Part D figures for 2027 are finalized.
If the Part B projection holds, the average retired worker's raise of about $75 would leave them roughly $68 a month better off. A federal "hold harmless" rule generally prevents a Part B increase from shrinking your existing Social Security payment, but it does not cover new enrollees or higher earners who pay income-related surcharges.
Other Social Security changes for 2027
Item | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
Maximum taxable earnings (Social Security tax) | $184,500 | $192,300 |
Maximum Social Security tax per employee and per employer | $11,439 | $11,922.60 |
Earnings limit for those under full retirement age | $24,480 a year | $25,560 a year |
Earnings limit in the year you reach full retirement age | $65,160 a year | $67,920 a year |
The 6.2% Social Security tax applies up to the taxable maximum, while the 1.45% Medicare tax applies to all earnings. If you claim benefits before full retirement age and keep working, SSA withholds $1 of benefits for every $2 you earn above the limit, or $1 for every $3 in the year you reach full retirement age. Withheld benefits are later added back after you reach full retirement age.
Social Security and SSI payment dates, November 2026 to January 2027
Social Security retirement and survivor payments follow your birth date, except for people who started before May 1997 or who receive both Social Security and SSI. SSI is usually paid on the 1st.
Month | Born 1st to 10th | Born 11th to 20th | Born 21st to 31st | Before May 1997 or both benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
November 2026 | Nov 10 | Nov 18 | Nov 25 | Tue, Nov 3 |
December 2026 | Dec 9 | Dec 16 | Dec 23 | Thu, Dec 3 |
January 2027 | Jan 13 | Jan 20 | Jan 27 | Fri, Dec 31, 2026 |
SSI payments: there is no SSI payment in November, because it is paid early on Friday, October 30. December's payment arrives Tuesday, December 1, and January's arrives early on Thursday, December 31, 2026, because January 1 is a federal holiday. That means some people receive two SSI payments in October and December, and none in November.
The January 2027 dates for birth-date groups follow the second, third and fourth Wednesdays, and the November 10 date comes a day early because of Veterans Day. SSA confirms each schedule on its payment calendar.
What the COLA does not cover
The COLA is meant to keep benefits in step with inflation, but many retirees say it doesn't match their costs.
- Many say it is not enough. In an AARP survey taken weeks before the announcement, 80% of Social Security recipients said a 3.5% increase would not be enough, and about 7 in 10 said an increase of 5% to 8% would be sufficient.
- Health costs rise faster. Nancy Altman of Social Security Works says health care inflation runs 5.8% a year while COLAs average 2.4%.
- Critics question the measure. It is based on the spending of urban wage earners rather than older adults, who spend more on health care.
- Gains are uneven. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget notes that the COLA adds about $900 a year for the average retiree but over $2,200 for the highest-benefit beneficiaries.
- Some benefits are taxed. Depending on your total income, up to 85% of your Social Security may be taxable, and Medicare premiums can also rise with income.
As a planning step, add the Part B increase and any change to your prescription plan to your 2027 budget. Medicare open enrollment runs until December 7, which is the window to compare drug and Medicare Advantage plans.
Social Security COLA 2027 FAQ
What is the 2027 Social Security COLA? 3.6%, announced by SSA on October 14, 2026. It applies to Social Security and SSI benefits.
When does the increase start? In January 2027 for Social Security. SSI recipients get the increase on December 31, 2026, in their January payment.
How much will my check go up? Multiply your current monthly benefit by 1.036. The average retired worker gets about $75 more a month, from $2,095 to $2,170.
Do I need to apply for the raise? No. It is automatic, and SSA will send a notice with your new amount.
Will Medicare take part of the increase? For most people on Medicare, yes. The Part B premium is projected to rise $6.60 to $209.50 a month, with the official amount due in November. The average retiree would still gain roughly $68 a month.
What is the new Social Security wage base? $192,300 in 2027, up from $184,500.
How much can I earn before my benefits are reduced in 2027? $25,560 a year if you are under full retirement age, or $67,920 in the year you reach it.
Was this the biggest COLA in recent years? It is the largest since 2023, when benefits rose 8.7%, and compares with 2.8% for 2026.
Sources
Reporting based on SSA's October 14, 2026 announcement and news coverage.
- SSA: 2027 Social Security changes (fact sheet)
- SSA: Cost-of-living adjustment for 2027 announcement
- AARP: Social Security COLA set at 3.6% for 2027
- CBS News: Social Security sets its 2027 COLA at 3.6%
- CNBC: Social Security announces 3.6% COLA for 2027
- Fox Business: Social Security announces cost-of-living adjustment for 2027
- The Hill: Social Security COLA set to rise 3.6% in 2027
- Yahoo News: 2027 COLA is the biggest since 2023
- PBS NewsHour: The Social Security COLA for 2027 is set
- Journal of Accountancy: wage base and COLA announced for 2027
- Kiplinger: 2027 Medicare costs and premium projections
- Kiplinger: Social Security payment schedule for 2027
- CPA Practice Advisor: 2026 payment schedule and SSI changes