The short answer
The Social Security COLA 2027 is 3.6%. The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced it on October 14, 2026, and it raises the average retired worker’s check by about $75 a month, from an estimated $2,095 to $2,170, starting with January 2027 payments.
- Who gets it: nearly 72 million Social Security beneficiaries and about 7.3 million people on Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or 76 million Americans in total.
- When it arrives: SSI recipients see it on December 31, 2026; Social Security checks rise with January 2027 payments.
- Your exact amount: online in your my Social Security account from late November, or by mail in December.
- Medicare catch: the 2027 Part B premium has not been announced yet, so your net raise is not final.
3.6%
2027 cost-of-living adjustment
$75
Average monthly raise for retired workers
$2,170
Average retired-worker benefit after the COLA
$192,300
2027 Social Security taxable maximum
In this article
A cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, is the yearly raise that keeps Social Security and SSI benefits in step with inflation. By law, the SSA ties it to the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), an inflation measure published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Social Security COLA 2027 therefore reflects how much prices rose between the third quarter of 2025 and the third quarter of 2026, according to the SSA’s 2027 COLA fact sheet.
Below, you will find what the 3.6% increase means in dollars, when it hits your account, the full 2027 payment schedule, the new tax and earnings limits, and how Medicare could shrink the raise. Every figure comes from the SSA or the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the federal agency that runs Medicare.
What Is the Social Security COLA 2027?
The Social Security COLA 2027 is a 3.6% increase in monthly benefits. The SSA confirmed the figure in its October 14, 2026 press release, and it applies to retirement, survivor and disability benefits as well as SSI.
In addition, the raise is automatic. You do not need to apply, call or fill out a form; the SSA simply recalculates your benefit and sends you a notice. Some people receive both Social Security and SSI, so the two beneficiary counts overlap.
How is the 2027 COLA calculated?
First, the SSA averages the CPI-W for July, August and September of the current year. Next, it compares that average with the same three months a year earlier. The percentage change, rounded to one decimal place, becomes the COLA. For 2027, that comparison produced 3.6%.
Is 3.6% a big COLA?
Yes, by recent standards. It is the largest increase since the 8.7% raise paid in 2023, and it beats the 3.2%, 2.5% and 2.8% raises of the last three years, based on SSA’s COLA history table. Even so, it is well below the 5.9% and 8.7% raises of the 2022 and 2023 inflation spike.
How Much Will My Social Security Increase in 2027?
Most people will get a raise of 3.6% of their current monthly benefit. For the average retired worker, that is about $75 more a month, or roughly $900 more over the year.
The SSA also publishes estimated averages for common household types. The table below shows those estimates for January 2027, before and after the COLA.
| Beneficiary type | Before 3.6% COLA | After 3.6% COLA | Monthly increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| All retired workers | $2,095 | $2,170 | $75 |
| Aged couple, both receiving benefits | $3,238 | $3,355 | $117 |
| Widowed mother and two children | $3,932 | $4,074 | $142 |
| Aged widow(er) alone | $1,936 | $2,005 | $69 |
| Disabled worker, spouse and one or more children | $2,970 | $3,077 | $107 |
| All disabled workers | $1,642 | $1,701 | $59 |
How to estimate your Social Security COLA 2027 raise
To get a quick estimate, multiply your current gross monthly benefit by 0.036. For example, a $1,500 benefit rises by about $54, a $2,000 benefit by about $72, and a $3,000 benefit by about $108. However, your actual deposit can differ because Medicare premiums and any tax withholding come out of the gross amount.
| Current monthly benefit | Estimated raise (3.6%) | Estimated new benefit |
|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $36 | $1,036 |
| $1,500 | $54 | $1,554 |
| $2,000 | $72 | $2,072 |
| $2,500 | $90 | $2,590 |
| $3,000 | $108 | $3,108 |
| $4,000 | $144 | $4,144 |
SSI and SSDI COLA 2027
SSI and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) get the same 3.6% increase. As a result, the federal SSI payment standard rises from $994 to $1,029 a month for an individual and from $1,491 to $1,544 for a couple. Meanwhile, the average disabled worker’s benefit goes from an estimated $1,642 to $1,701.
SSI resource limits, on the other hand, stay at $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple in 2027, so the asset test does not loosen.
When Does the 2027 COLA Start?
The 2027 COLA shows up in Social Security payments made in January 2027. SSI recipients get it a little sooner: the higher SSI payment arrives on December 31, 2026, because January 1 is a federal holiday.
- Late November 2026: COLA notices appear in the Message Center of your my Social Security account.
- November 18, 2026: the deadline to create an account and enroll in paperless notices if you want to see your notice online, according to the SSA.
- December 2026: paper notices arrive by mail for everyone not enrolled in online notices.
- December 31, 2026: first SSI payment with the 3.6% increase.
- January 2027: first Social Security payments with the increase, on your usual payment date.
Also, the SSA says the new notice is a simplified, one-page letter showing your new benefit, the exact payment dates and any deductions. If you already have an online account, you can see it up to three weeks earlier than the mailed copy. You can sign in or create an account at ssa.gov/myaccount.
Social Security Payment Schedule 2027
Your Social Security payment date in 2027 depends on your birthday. If you were born on the 1st through the 10th, you are paid on the second Wednesday; the 11th through the 20th, on the third Wednesday; and the 21st through the 31st, on the fourth Wednesday, according to the SSA’s 2027 payment schedule.
There are two exceptions. First, if you started benefits before May 1997, or you get both Social Security and SSI, your Social Security arrives on the 3rd. Second, SSI is paid on the 1st. When either date falls on a weekend or federal holiday, the payment moves to the business day before.
| Month (2027) | SSI | 3rd-of-month group | Born 1st–10th | Born 11th–20th | Born 21st–31st |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Dec 31, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | Jan 13 | Jan 20 | Jan 27 |
| February | Feb 1 | Feb 3 | Feb 10 | Feb 17 | Feb 24 |
| March | Mar 1 | Mar 3 | Mar 10 | Mar 17 | Mar 24 |
| April | Apr 1 | Apr 2 | Apr 14 | Apr 21 | Apr 28 |
| May | Apr 30 | May 3 | May 12 | May 19 | May 26 |
| June | Jun 1 | Jun 3 | Jun 9 | Jun 16 | Jun 23 |
| July | Jul 1 | Jul 2 | Jul 14 | Jul 21 | Jul 28 |
| August | Jul 30 | Aug 3 | Aug 11 | Aug 18 | Aug 25 |
| September | Sep 1 | Sep 3 | Sep 8 | Sep 15 | Sep 22 |
| October | Oct 1 | Oct 1 | Oct 13 | Oct 20 | Oct 27 |
| November | Nov 1 | Nov 3 | Nov 10 | Nov 17 | Nov 24 |
| December | Dec 1 | Dec 3 | Dec 8 | Dec 15 | Dec 22 |
Watch out. Months with two SSI deposits, such as April (April 1 and April 30) and July (July 1 and July 30), are not a bonus. The early deposit is next month’s payment, so budget for a month with none. The same thing happens at the end of December 2027, when January 2028’s SSI payment lands on December 31 because January 1, 2028 is a Saturday.
Will the Medicare Part B Premium Eat Into the 2027 COLA?
Possibly, but the final number is not out yet. As of October 21, 2026, CMS has not announced the 2027 Part B premium, so nobody can say exactly how much of the 3.6% raise Medicare will absorb.
For context, the standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month in 2026, up $17.90 from $185 in 2025, and the deductible is $283, according to the CMS 2026 premiums fact sheet. CMS released those 2026 figures on November 14, 2025, so the 2027 numbers will most likely come in November 2026.
What are the 2027 Part B projections?
The Medicare trustees’ 2026 report projects a standard premium of $209.50 a month in 2027, a $6.60 rise, and a $292 deductible, as reported by AARP. Keep in mind that these are projections, not official 2027 amounts.
If that projection holds, the average retired worker’s $75 raise would shrink by about $6.60 after the premium is deducted. Higher-income enrollees who pay the income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA), a Medicare surcharge, would see a bigger bite; the 2027 IRMAA brackets have not been released either.
What is the $90 Medicare Part B rebate?
Separately, CMS says about 20.8 million people in Original Medicare Part B will get a one-time $90 “premium rebate” in October 2026. According to the CMS rebate FAQ, you qualify if you live in the U.S., do not get Medicaid help with premiums and do not pay IRMAA. However, Medicare Advantage enrollees are not eligible.
Most eligible people receive the $90 by direct deposit from the SSA around October 8, while others get a Treasury check later in October. It is a single payment, so it does not change your 2027 benefit or your COLA. For 2027 Medicare plan and premium updates, check Medicare.gov.
Other Social Security Changes for 2027
The COLA is only one of several automatic adjustments. The SSA also raised the taxable maximum, the earnings test limits and the disability thresholds for 2027.
| Item | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum taxable earnings (Social Security tax) | $184,500 | $192,300 |
| Employee tax rate (Social Security + Medicare) | 7.65% | 7.65% |
| Self-employed tax rate | 15.30% | 15.30% |
| Earnings needed for one quarter of coverage | $1,890 | $1,970 |
| Earnings test, under full retirement age | $24,480/yr ($2,040/mo) | $25,560/yr ($2,130/mo) |
| Earnings test, year you reach full retirement age | $65,160/yr ($5,430/mo) | $67,920/yr ($5,660/mo) |
| Substantial gainful activity (non-blind) | $1,690/mo | $1,770/mo |
| Substantial gainful activity (blind) | $2,830/mo | $2,950/mo |
| Trial work period | $1,210/mo | $1,270/mo |
| Maximum benefit, retiring at full retirement age | $4,152/mo | $4,188/mo |
| SSI federal payment, individual / couple | $994 / $1,491 | $1,029 / $1,544 |
| SSI student exclusion, monthly / annual | $2,410 / $9,730 | $2,500 / $10,080 |
Social Security earnings limit 2027
If you claim benefits before full retirement age and keep working, the SSA withholds $1 for every $2 you earn above $25,560 in 2027. Then, in the calendar year you reach full retirement age, the limit jumps to $67,920, and the SSA withholds $1 for every $3 above it, counting only earnings before the month you reach that age. Once you hit full retirement age, there is no earnings limit at all.
Social Security tax limit 2027
The 6.2% Social Security payroll tax applies only to wages up to $192,300 in 2027, up from $184,500. In contrast, the 1.45% Medicare tax has no cap, and high earners still pay an extra 0.9% Medicare tax above $200,000 of earned income ($250,000 for married couples filing jointly).
Social Security COLA History: The Last 10 Years
Over the past decade, COLAs have ranged from 1.3% to 8.7%. The table lists each raise by the year it first appeared in January checks.
| Benefit year | COLA | Change vs. prior year |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 3.6% | +0.8 pts |
| 2026 | 2.8% | +0.3 pts |
| 2025 | 2.5% | −0.7 pts |
| 2024 | 3.2% | −5.5 pts |
| 2023 | 8.7% | +2.8 pts |
| 2022 | 5.9% | +4.6 pts |
| 2021 | 1.3% | −0.3 pts |
| 2020 | 1.6% | −1.2 pts |
| 2019 | 2.8% | +0.8 pts |
| 2018 | 2.0% | +1.7 pts |
In other words, the 2027 raise sits above the 10-year middle of the pack but far below the 2022–2023 spike. That said, a COLA only matches the CPI-W; if your own costs, such as rent or prescriptions, rise faster, your buying power can still slip.
How to Check Your New Benefit and Avoid COLA Scams
The safest way to see your 2027 benefit is to sign in to your own my Social Security account at ssa.gov. Your notice there lists the new gross amount, the Medicare premium deduction and the net deposit.
- Sign up early: enroll in paperless notices by November 18, 2026 to see your COLA letter online.
- Turn on alerts: the SSA can text or email you when a new notice reaches your Message Center.
- Compare the math: check that your gross benefit rose by about 3.6% before deductions.
- Report changes: tell the SSA if you marry, divorce or lose a spouse, because these life events can change your benefit.
Watch out. The SSA’s services are free. No government agency will ask for gift cards, wire transfers or advance fees to “unlock” your COLA. If someone does, hang up and report it to the SSA Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov/report or 1-800-269-0271.
Pro tip. Because the COLA is fixed for the year, now is a good time to move any extra cash into an account that keeps pace with inflation. Our guide to high-yield savings accounts compares current options.
Our verdict
The Social Security COLA 2027 of 3.6% is the biggest raise in four years and adds about $75 a month to the average retirement check. Still, treat the headline figure as your gross raise. Until CMS publishes the 2027 Part B premium, likely in November, your net increase is an estimate.
So, for now, set up or sign in to your my Social Security account, note your 2027 payment dates, and wait for your personal notice in late November before you change your budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Social Security COLA for 2027?
The Social Security COLA for 2027 is 3.6 percent. The Social Security Administration announced it on October 14, 2026, based on the rise in the CPI-W from the third quarter of 2025 to the third quarter of 2026. It applies to retirement, survivor and disability benefits as well as SSI, covering about 76 million Americans.
How much will my Social Security increase in 2027?
Your benefit rises by 3.6 percent of your current gross monthly amount. The average retired worker gets about $75 more a month, from an estimated $2,095 to $2,170. To estimate your own raise, multiply your current benefit by 0.036; Medicare premiums and tax withholding can lower the amount you actually receive.
When will I get the 2027 COLA increase?
Social Security beneficiaries see the 3.6 percent increase in their January 2027 payments, on their normal payment date. SSI recipients get it earlier, on December 31, 2026, because January 1 is a federal holiday. Personal COLA notices appear online in late November and arrive by mail in December.
What is the 2027 COLA for SSI and SSDI?
SSI and SSDI both get the same 3.6 percent COLA. The maximum federal SSI payment rises to $1,029 a month for an individual and $1,544 for a couple. The average disabled worker benefit is estimated to rise from $1,642 to $1,701 a month in January 2027, according to the SSA fact sheet.
Has the 2027 Medicare Part B premium been announced?
Not yet. As of October 21, 2026, CMS had not released the 2027 Part B premium. The 2026 standard premium is $202.90 a month. The Medicare trustees project $209.50 for 2027, but that is only a projection. CMS released the 2026 figures in mid-November 2025, so expect the 2027 amount around November 2026.
What is the Social Security earnings limit for 2027?
In 2027, if you are under full retirement age all year, the SSA withholds $1 for every $2 you earn above $25,560. In the year you reach full retirement age, the limit is $67,920, with $1 withheld for every $3 above it. After you reach full retirement age, there is no earnings limit.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not financial, tax or legal advice. Benefit amounts are SSA estimates and averages; your actual payment depends on your own record and deductions. Confirm your figures in your my Social Security account or with the Social Security Administration, and consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions.
