The New 2027 Average Benefits
Here’s what the 3.6% increase does to the average check, using the Social Security Administration’s own estimates. Your raise will be your current benefit times 3.6%.
| Who | Before | 2027 | Raise |
|---|---|---|---|
| All retired workers | $2,095 | $2,170 | +$75 |
| Retired couple, both receiving | $3,238 | $3,355 | +$117 |
| Widow(er) alone | $1,936 | $2,005 | +$69 |
| Widowed parent, two children | $3,932 | $4,074 | +$142 |
| All disabled workers | $1,642 | $1,701 | +$59 |
| Disabled worker, spouse and children | $2,970 | $3,077 | +$107 |
Monthly amounts. Source: SSA 2027 COLA Fact Sheet.
SSI in 2027
The federal SSI payment rises to $1,029 a month for an individual (up from $994) and $1,544 for a couple (up from $1,491). Some states add their own supplement on top of that.
SSI recipients see the raise first. The January 2027 SSI payment arrives early, on December 31, 2026, because January 1 is a holiday. That means two SSI payments land in December. It isn’t a bonus, so budget it to last through January. Our SSI double payment guide explains how this works, and the SSI Payment Date Checker shows any month’s date.
VA Disability: Do Veterans Get 3.6% Too?
Almost certainly. VA disability compensation is tied to the Social Security COLA, but unlike Social Security, Congress has to pass it each year through the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act. It nearly always matches. If approved, the 3.6% raise is effective December 1, 2026 and shows up in the payment that arrives around January 1, 2027.
Here’s what 3.6% would mean for a veteran with no dependents:
| Rating | 2026 | 2027 (est.) | Raise |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 | $186.92 | +$6.50 |
| 20% | $356.66 | $369.50 | +$12.84 |
| 30% | $552.47 | $572.36 | +$19.89 |
| 40% | $795.84 | $824.49 | +$28.65 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 | $1,173.68 | +$40.78 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 | $1,486.68 | +$51.66 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 | $1,873.55 | +$65.10 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 | $2,177.83 | +$75.68 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 | $2,447.34 | +$85.04 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 | $4,080.37 | +$141.79 |
Estimated monthly rates for a veteran alone, at 3.6%. Final rates are published by the VA once the COLA is signed into law. Rates with a spouse, children, or parents are higher.
What Else Changed for 2027
The COLA announcement also updates several other Social Security numbers:
- Maximum taxable earnings: $192,300, up from $184,500. If you earn above the old cap, you’ll pay up to $483.60 more in Social Security tax this year (about $967 if you’re self-employed).
- Earnings limit if you’re working and under full retirement age: $25,560 a year ($2,130 a month), up from $24,480. Above that, SSA holds back $1 for every $2 you earn.
- Earnings limit in the year you reach full retirement age: $67,920, up from $65,160. Above that, SSA holds back $1 for every $3. Once you reach full retirement age, there’s no limit.
- Maximum benefit at full retirement age: $4,188 a month, up from $4,152.
- One work credit: $1,970 of earnings (you can earn up to four a year).
- Disability earnings limit (SGA): $1,770 a month, or $2,950 if you’re blind.
How the COLA Is Calculated
The COLA is the percentage change in the CPI-W (Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers), comparing the average of July, August, and September this year with the same three months of the last year a COLA was paid. It’s automatic. No vote is needed for Social Security. For 2027, that change came to 3.6%, as higher prices for things like groceries and energy pushed inflation back up over the summer of 2026.
Why People Worry About Social Security’s Future
A bigger raise doesn’t change the long-term math. Social Security pays today’s benefits mostly from today’s workers’ payroll taxes, and with more retirees per worker, the trust fund reserves are shrinking. Recent Social Security Trustees Reports project the reserves will run out in the early-to-mid 2030s. After that, incoming taxes would still cover roughly 80% of scheduled benefits unless Congress acts. Benefits wouldn’t go to zero, but it’s a strong reason not to count on Social Security as your only retirement income.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Social Security COLA for 2027?
3.6%. The Social Security Administration announced it on October 14, 2026. For the average retired worker, that’s about $75 more a month, raising the average benefit from $2,095 to $2,170.
When does the 2027 COLA show up in my payment?
Social Security retirement, survivor, and disability benefits rise with the January 2027 payments. SSI recipients get it first, with the payment dated December 31, 2026, which is SSI’s January payment paid early.
How much is SSI in 2027?
The federal SSI payment rises to $1,029 a month for an individual (from $994) and $1,544 for a couple (from $1,491). Some states add a supplement on top.
Do veterans get the 3.6% COLA on VA disability?
VA disability compensation normally gets the same COLA as Social Security, but Congress has to pass it each year. If it’s approved as expected, the 3.6% increase is effective December 1, 2026 and first shows up in the payment that arrives around January 1, 2027. A 100% rated veteran with no dependents would go from $3,938.58 to about $4,080.37 a month.
Will Medicare take part of my COLA?
It can. If you’re on Medicare Part B, the premium is usually deducted from your Social Security check. The 2027 Part B premium is typically announced in November. Any increase comes out of your raise before it reaches your bank account.