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✅ Official: the 2027 COLA is 3.6%, announced by the SSA on October 14, 2026. It shows up in January 2027 Social Security payments. SSI recipients get it first, on December 31, 2026.
3.6%
Key 2027 Numbers
| Average retired worker | $2,095 → $2,170 |
| Retired couple | $3,238 → $3,355 |
| Disabled worker (average) | $1,642 → $1,701 |
| SSI, individual / couple | $1,029 / $1,544 |
| Earnings limit (under full retirement age) | $25,560/yr |
| Maximum benefit at full retirement age | $4,188/mo |
| Maximum taxable earnings | $192,300 |
Source: SSA 2027 COLA Fact Sheet. Veterans: VA disability usually gets the same 3.6% once Congress approves it. See the VA rate chart →
2027 Social Security COLA Chart: Your New Benefit at 3.6%
Find your current monthly check. No typing needed. Amounts are rounded to the nearest dollar; SSA rounds each benefit down to the dime.
| Current benefit | 2027 benefit | Monthly raise |
|---|---|---|
| $800 | $829 | +$29 |
| $1,000 | $1,036 | +$36 |
| $1,200 | $1,243 | +$43 |
| $1,500 | $1,554 | +$54 |
| $1,800 | $1,865 | +$65 |
| $2,000 | $2,072 | +$72 |
| $2,095 (average retiree) | $2,170 | +$75 |
| $2,500 | $2,590 | +$90 |
| $3,000 | $3,108 | +$108 |
| $3,500 | $3,626 | +$126 |
| $4,000 | $4,144 | +$144 |
Before any Medicare Part B premium change. The 2027 Part B premium is announced in November.
Your Benefit: 2026 vs. 2027
Social Security COLA History, 2018–2027
Actual
2027 (official)
How the COLA Is Calculated
Each year, the Social Security Administration compares the average CPI-W (Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers) for July, August, and September against the same three months from the last year a COLA was applied. The percentage change becomes the following January's COLA.
For 2027, that change came to 3.6%, up from 2.8% in 2026 and the largest raise since 2023's 8.7%. The increase is automatic. No vote is needed for Social Security.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 2027 Social Security COLA?
3.6%, announced by the Social Security Administration on October 14, 2026. The average retired worker's benefit rises about $75 a month, from $2,095 to $2,170.
How much will my Social Security check go up in 2027?
Multiply your current benefit by 1.036. A $1,000 check becomes about $1,036 (+$36), $1,500 becomes $1,554 (+$54), $2,000 becomes $2,072 (+$72), and $3,000 becomes $3,108 (+$108), before any Medicare Part B premium change. See the full chart ↑
How is the Social Security COLA calculated?
COLA is based on the percentage change in the CPI-W between the third quarter (July, August, September) of the current year and the third quarter of the last year a COLA was applied.
Does the COLA increase get reduced by Medicare premiums?
For most beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Part B, the standard premium is deducted directly from the Social Security check. If the Part B premium rises, it can offset part of the COLA increase.
When will I see the 2027 COLA in my payment?
Social Security retirement, survivor, and disability benefits rise with January 2027 payments. SSI recipients get the increase first, with the payment dated December 31, 2026. The federal SSI amount rises to $1,029 for an individual and $1,544 for a couple.