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- Social Security and SSI payments will increase by 3.6% in 2027, with average retirement benefits rising by about $75 per month.
- The higher SSI amount begins with the payment issued December 31, 2026, while most Social Security beneficiaries see the increase in January 2027.
- Create or access a personal my Social Security account by November 18, 2026, to view your personalized COLA notice online in late November.
What the 2027 Social Security COLA means
The Social Security Administration has confirmed a 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment for 2027. The increase applies to Social Security retirement, survivor, and disability benefits, as well as Supplemental Security Income payments.
For the average retired worker, the increase works out to about $75 more per month. That figure is only an average, though. Your actual change depends on your current benefit, rounding, Medicare deductions, tax withholding, and any other adjustments taken from your payment.
The COLA is based on changes in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, commonly called the CPI-W. It is designed to adjust benefits as consumer prices change, but it does not guarantee that every household’s costs will rise by exactly the same amount.
When will the higher payments begin?
The timing is easy to misunderstand because Social Security benefits are generally paid after the month for which they are due, while SSI follows a different schedule.
| Benefit | When the 2027 increase starts | What many people will see |
|---|---|---|
| Social Security retirement, survivor, and disability benefits | Benefits payable for December 2026, generally received in January 2027 | A higher payment in January 2027 |
| SSI | January 2027 payment | Paid early on December 31, 2026, because January 1 is a federal holiday |
If you receive both SSI and Social Security, the two payments may arrive on different dates. The December 31 SSI payment is the January 2027 SSI payment, not an extra monthly benefit.
January 2027 Social Security payment dates
For people who started receiving Social Security after April 30, 1997, payments are usually sent on the second, third, or fourth Wednesday of the month based on the beneficiary’s birth date.
- Birth date from the 1st through the 10th: January 13, 2027
- Birth date from the 11th through the 20th: January 20, 2027
- Birth date from the 21st through the 31st: January 27, 2027
People who received Social Security before May 1997, or who receive both Social Security and SSI, generally follow a different schedule. The official 2027 calendar is the safest way to check a specific payment date.
View the official 2027 Social Security payment calendarHow much could your benefit increase?
To estimate the basic COLA effect, multiply your current gross monthly benefit by 1.036. For example, a $1,500 benefit would increase by about $54 before deductions. A $2,000 benefit would rise by about $72 before deductions.
The calculation is not a promise of your final deposit. Medicare Part B premiums, income-related Medicare adjustments, federal tax withholding, overpayments, and voluntary deductions can reduce the amount that reaches your bank account. Your personalized notice will show the figure SSA is using for you.
SSA estimates that average monthly retirement benefits for all retired workers will rise from about $2,095 before the COLA to about $2,170 after it. Individual benefits can be higher or lower depending on earnings history, claiming age, and family circumstances.
Other Social Security changes for 2027
The COLA is only one annual adjustment. Several work and tax figures will also change in 2027.
| 2027 figure | Amount | Who should pay attention |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum taxable earnings | $192,300 | Workers whose earnings are subject to Social Security tax |
| Earnings limit below full retirement age | $25,560 per year, or $2,130 per month | People receiving benefits while working who have not reached full retirement age |
| Earnings limit in the year full retirement age is reached | $67,920 per year, or $5,660 per month | People reaching full retirement age in 2027, for earnings before that month |
| SSI federal maximum for an individual | $1,029 per month | Eligible SSI recipients before countable-income reductions |
| SSI federal maximum for an eligible couple | $1,544 per month | Eligible couples before countable-income reductions |
| Quarter of coverage | $1,970 | Workers building Social Security eligibility credits |
For people below full retirement age, SSA generally withholds $1 in benefits for every $2 earned above the lower annual limit. In the year someone reaches full retirement age, the higher limit applies to earnings before the month full retirement age is reached, with $1 withheld for every $3 above that limit. Starting with the month full retirement age is reached, there is no earnings limit.
The SSI maximum is not automatically what every recipient receives. Countable income, living arrangements, state supplements, and other rules can reduce the federal payment.
How to view your personalized COLA notice
SSA expects most online COLA notices to appear in the Message Center of a personal my Social Security account in late November 2026. To receive the notice online, create an account or make sure your existing account is active by November 18, 2026.
Use the official account page, sign in through Login.gov or ID.me, and open the Message Center after notices become available. You can also choose text or email alerts when a new message arrives.
Create or sign in to your official my Social Security account- Open the official my Social Security account page.
- Choose the sign-in option that applies to you: Login.gov or ID.me.
- Complete identity verification if you are creating an account.
- Check the Message Center in late November for your COLA notice.
- Save or print the notice so you can compare it with your first 2027 payment.
People who do not use paperless notices should receive an updated benefit notice by mail during December. Creating an account is not required to keep receiving benefits, but online access may let you see the information earlier.
What about Medicare premiums?
A 3.6% COLA does not mean your net Social Security deposit will necessarily increase by the same percentage. If Medicare Part B or Part D premiums are deducted from your benefit, the amount taken out can change separately. Higher-income beneficiaries may also be affected by income-related Medicare adjustments.
SSA says Medicare information for 2027 will be available through Medicare resources, and the benefit amount for Medicare enrollees will appear in the personal my Social Security Message Center when available. Do not rely on an estimate from a social media post or an unofficial calculator before your notice arrives.
Common mistakes and scam warnings
Confusing the payment date with the benefit month
The December 31, 2026 SSI payment represents January 2027 SSI. It is not a bonus or an additional payment. Similarly, the January 2027 Social Security payment generally reflects the benefit payable for December 2026.
Assuming the average increase is your increase
The frequently quoted $75 figure is an average for retired workers. Your notice, not the average, is the correct source for your new amount.
Giving account information to a caller
SSA warns that legitimate government agencies do not demand payment by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency. Be cautious with calls, emails, and text messages asking for your Social Security number, bank information, or a fee to release a COLA increase. Type the official SSA address into your browser rather than using a suspicious message link.
What to do before December
Check your current gross benefit, review any Medicare or tax deductions, and note whether you are working below full retirement age. If you want early online access to your personalized notice, create or access your my Social Security account by November 18, 2026. Then compare the notice with your first 2027 deposit and contact SSA directly if the amount does not match the explanation provided.
Helpful Links
- Schedule of Social Security Payments for 2027 – Check the official 2027 payment calendar and exceptions for SSI and older Social Security payment schedules.
- my Social Security Account – Create or sign in to an account, view your COLA notice, and manage personal Social Security information.
- Medicare Official Website – Check official Medicare coverage, premium, and enrollment information as 2027 details become available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is the 2027 Social Security COLA really 3.6%?
A. Yes. The Social Security Administration announced a 3.6% COLA for Social Security and SSI payments in 2027. Your personal dollar increase may differ because benefits are rounded and deductions can change.
Q. Will SSI recipients receive the 2027 increase in December 2026?
A. The January 2027 SSI payment is scheduled for December 31, 2026 because January 1 is a federal holiday. That payment counts as the January SSI payment, not an extra benefit.
Q. When can I see my 2027 COLA notice online?
A. Most online COLA notices are expected in late November 2026. To view yours online, create or access your personal my Social Security account by November 18, 2026.
Q. Will Medicare premiums cancel out the 2027 COLA?
A. Not necessarily, but Medicare deductions can reduce the amount of your net deposit. Part B, Part D, and income-related adjustments are separate from the COLA, so use your personalized notice and official Medicare information to determine your final amount.
