Social Security benefits will rise 3.6% in 2027. The Social Security Administration announced the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, after the government released September inflation data. It is the biggest raise since 2023 and is up from the 2.8% increase retirees got for 2026.
Quick answer
- 2027 COLA: 3.6% (2026 was 2.8%)
- Average retirement check: up about $75 a month, per SSA
- Who gets it: about 72 million Social Security beneficiaries, starting with January 2027 payments
- SSI: about 7.3 million recipients get the raise in the payment dated Dec. 31, 2026
How much will my Social Security check go up?
Multiply your current monthly benefit by 3.6%. Here is what that looks like for common benefit amounts (before any Medicare Part B premium deduction):
| Monthly benefit in 2026 | Raise (3.6%) | New benefit in 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| $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 |
SSA rounds benefits down to the nearest dime, so your exact figure may be a few cents lower.
When will the higher payment arrive?
Social Security recipients see the 3.6% increase in the benefit paid in January 2027. Your payment date depends on your birthday: the second, third or fourth Wednesday of the month, or the 3rd for people who started benefits before May 1997 or who also receive SSI.
SSI recipients get their raise sooner. Because Jan. 1 is a holiday, the January 2027 SSI payment is paid on Thursday, Dec. 31, 2026.
How will I find out my exact new amount?
SSA mails COLA notices and posts them online in early December. The fastest way to see yours is to sign in to your my Social Security account and open the Message Center. You can choose to get the notice online instead of by mail in your account settings.
Will Medicare take part of my raise?
Probably some of it. If you are enrolled in Medicare Part B, the premium is usually taken straight out of your Social Security check. The 2027 Part B premium has not been announced yet. Medicare usually releases it in the fall, and a higher premium would shrink the net increase you actually see. We will update this article when the figure is released.
Why is the COLA bigger this year?
The COLA is tied to the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). SSA compares the average CPI-W for July, August and September with the same three months a year earlier. Inflation picked up in 2026, so the adjustment is larger than last year’s 2.8%. The 3.6% figure matched what most Social Security analysts were forecasting in September.
Recent COLA history
| Year paid | COLA |
|---|---|
| 2027 | 3.6% |
| 2026 | 2.8% |
| 2025 | 2.5% |
| 2024 | 3.2% |
| 2023 | 8.7% |
Quick answers
Is the 2027 Social Security COLA official?
Yes. SSA announced the 3.6% increase on Oct. 14, 2026.
Do I need to apply for the COLA?
No. The increase is automatic for everyone receiving Social Security or SSI.
Do federal retirees get the same raise?
CSRS retirees generally get the full COLA, while FERS retirees get a slightly reduced amount when inflation is above 3%. Check with OPM for your exact figure.
Does the COLA affect taxes on my benefits?
It can. A higher benefit raises your “combined income,” which could make more of your benefit taxable if you are near the IRS limits.
Sources: Social Security Administration COLA announcement (Oct. 14, 2026); SSA Office of the Chief Actuary COLA history; CNBC.
