Social Security COLA 2027: Benefits Rise 3.6%. Here’s How Much You’ll Get
Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits will increase 3.6% in 2027, the Social Security Administration announced on October 14, 2026. For the average retired worker, that is about $74 more a month. Here is what the raise means for your check, when it arrives, how Medicare premiums affect it and what else changes in 2027. To see your exact new amount, use our free Social Security COLA calculator.
How much your Social Security check will increase
To estimate your new benefit, multiply your current monthly benefit by 1.036. Here is what a 3.6% COLA means at common benefit levels:
| Current monthly benefit | 2027 benefit | Increase per month | Increase per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $1,036 | +$36 | +$432 |
| $1,500 | $1,554 | +$54 | +$648 |
| $2,071 | $2,145 | +$74 | +$888 |
| $2,500 | $2,590 | +$90 | +$1,080 |
| $3,000 | $3,108 | +$108 | +$1,296 |
| $4,152 | $4,301 | +$149 | +$1,788 |
$2,071 is the average retired-worker benefit in 2026, and $4,152 is the maximum monthly benefit for someone retiring at full retirement age in 2026. Amounts are before Medicare premiums and any tax withholding. The Social Security Administration rounds benefits down to the dime, so your exact amount may be a few cents lower.
When you’ll see the increase
The COLA applies to benefits for December 2026, which are paid in January 2027. Social Security pays on a schedule based on your birthday:
| If you get | First payment with the COLA |
|---|---|
| SSI | December 31, 2026 (for January) |
| Social Security, birthday 1st–10th | Wednesday, January 13, 2027 |
| Social Security, birthday 11th–20th | Wednesday, January 20, 2027 |
| Social Security, birthday 21st–31st | Wednesday, January 27, 2027 |
| Benefits since before May 1997, or both SS and SSI | December 31, 2026 (for the 3rd) |
The Social Security Administration mails COLA notices in December and posts them in your online my Social Security account, showing your exact new amount and any Medicare deduction.
How the COLA is calculated
By law, the COLA equals the rise in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from the third quarter (July, August and September) of last year to the third quarter of this year. The September inflation report, released in mid-October, completes the calculation, which is why the COLA is announced the same day.
Recent COLAs show how much the raise depends on inflation:
| Year benefits rose | COLA |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 5.9% |
| 2023 | 8.7% |
| 2024 | 3.2% |
| 2025 | 2.5% |
| 2026 | 2.8% |
| 2027 | 3.6% |
Medicare premiums and your net raise
If you are on Medicare, your Part B premium is usually deducted from your Social Security check. The standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month in 2026, and the 2027 premium is typically announced in the fall. If Part B rises, part of your COLA goes to the higher premium, so your net increase can be smaller than the table above.
A “hold harmless” rule protects most people who have Part B deducted from their check: their net Social Security payment cannot go down from one year to the next because of a Part B increase. Higher-income beneficiaries who pay income-related surcharges are not covered by this rule.
Other Social Security changes for 2027
The Social Security Administration also updates the taxable wage base and the earnings test limits each October. In 2026, the taxable maximum is $184,500 and the earnings test limits are $24,480 and $65,160.
What to do with your COLA
- Check your notice. Log in to my Social Security in December to see your exact new benefit and Medicare deduction.
- Update your budget. Prices have already risen, so the COLA mainly helps you keep up. Plan with your net amount after Medicare.
- Review tax withholding. A higher benefit can raise the taxable part of your Social Security. Our 2026 federal tax calculator helps you estimate your bill.
- Re-check your retirement plan. See how Social Security, savings and withdrawals fit together with the retirement calculator.
- Taking required distributions? Your RMD is separate from Social Security. Check this year’s amount with the RMD calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Social Security COLA for 2027?
Social Security and SSI benefits will rise 3.6% in 2027, the Social Security Administration announced on October 14, 2026. For the average retired worker receiving about $2,071 a month, that is roughly $74 more a month.
When will I get the 2027 COLA increase?
Social Security beneficiaries see the higher amount in payments made in January 2027. SSI recipients get the increase with the payment dated January 1, 2027, which arrives on December 31, 2026 because January 1 is a holiday.
How is the COLA calculated?
The COLA equals the percentage increase 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 the current year. If prices did not rise, there is no COLA, and benefits are never cut.
Will Medicare premiums take part of my COLA?
Possibly. Most people have the Medicare Part B premium deducted from their Social Security check. The standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month in 2026, and the 2027 premium is usually announced in the fall. A 'hold harmless' rule protects most beneficiaries from seeing their net Social Security payment fall because of a Part B increase.
Is the COLA taxable?
The COLA itself is not taxed separately, but it raises your total benefit. Up to 50% or 85% of Social Security benefits can be subject to federal income tax depending on your other income, so a higher benefit can slightly increase the taxable portion.
Calculate your 2027 Social Security check
Enter your current benefit to see your new monthly amount, your yearly raise and your net check after Medicare Part B.
Open the COLA CalculatorSources
The 2027 COLA and related 2027 figures are from the Social Security Administration’s Cost-of-Living Adjustment page and announcement of October 14, 2026. The 2026 average benefit, 2026 COLA and taxable maximum are from the Social Security Administration’s 2026 COLA announcement as reported by AARP. The 2026 Medicare Part B premium is from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Payment dates follow the Social Security Administration’s published payment rules. Benefit tables are our own calculations.
This guide is for general information only and is not financial, tax or legal advice. Your exact benefit, Medicare deduction and payment date are shown in your Social Security notice.