Social Security checks will get a 3.6% raise in 2027. The Social Security Administration announced the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) on Wednesday, Oct. 14. It is the largest increase since 2023.
The raise will reach about 76 million Americans, counting people who get Social Security and people who get Supplemental Security Income (SSI). For the average retired worker, the agency says it works out to about $75 more per month. The increase begins with benefits paid in January 2027.
What the numbers look like
- Average monthly benefit: about $2,163 in January 2027, up from $2,088 in 2026.
- Taxable earnings cap: rises to $192,300 from $184,500. That is the maximum amount of yearly earnings subject to the Social Security payroll tax.
- Who gets it: retirees, disabled workers, survivors and SSI recipients.
Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano said the agency would carry out the adjustment for 76 million Americans, giving them greater financial stability.
How the raise compares with recent years
The 2027 increase is a big step up from the last few years:
- 2023: 8.7%
- 2024: 3.2%
- 2025: 2.5%
- 2026: 2.8%
- 2027: 3.6%
Why it is bigger this year
The COLA is not a number the government picks. It is a formula tied to inflation. The agency compares the average of a price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers, called the CPI-W, for July, August and September with the same three months a year earlier. If prices do not rise, there is no raise.
This year prices rose faster, in part because energy costs jumped after the Iran war began. They have stayed high because of disruptions in the oil and gasoline supply chain.
Not everyone thinks it is enough
Some recipients and advocacy groups say the raise does not keep up with what they pay for food, health care and gasoline. One advocate called it “a pittance” given how high those costs have become. AARP’s chief executive said the COLA is critically important for people who depend on the benefit.
Medicare costs also matter, and Medicare open enrollment is underway. Most beneficiaries have their Part B premium taken straight out of their Social Security check. The Medicare trustees estimate the standard Part B premium will rise from $202.90 a month in 2026 to about $209.50 in 2027. The final amount has not been announced, so part of the raise may be absorbed by higher Medicare costs.
When you will find out your new amount
- People with a personal my Social Security account can see their COLA notice online starting in late November.
- People enrolled in Medicare will see their 2027 benefit amount in the account’s message center starting in late November.
- Recipients who do not use paperless notices will get a letter in the mail during December.
You do not have to apply for the increase. It is added automatically.
