Social Security COLA 2027 Is 3.6%: New Benefit Amounts and the January Payment Dates
Social Security benefits rise 3.6% in 2027, about $75 a month for the average retiree. SSI raises arrive Dec. 31; January 2027 payment dates by birthday.
In this article
Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits will rise 3.6% in 2027, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026. The increase reaches about 76 million people. For the average retired worker it means roughly $75 more a month, and the first higher payments arrive on Dec. 31, 2026, for SSI recipients.
What SSA announced
The 2027 cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, is the largest since the 8.7% increase for 2023. It follows raises of 3.2% for 2024, 2.5% for 2025 and 2.8% for 2026.
- Nearly 72 million Social Security beneficiaries get the increase starting with January 2027 benefits.
- About 7.3 million SSI recipients get it starting Dec. 31, 2026.
- Some people receive both, which is why the totals overlap.
By law, the COLA follows the rise in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from the third quarter of the previous year to the third quarter of the current year, as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The 3.6% figure compares July to September 2026 with the same months of 2025.
How much benefits go up
SSA’s fact sheet estimates these average monthly amounts for January 2027:
| Beneficiary type | Before 3.6% COLA | After 3.6% COLA |
|---|---|---|
| All retired workers | $2,095 | $2,170 |
| Aged couple, both receiving benefits | $3,238 | $3,355 |
| Widowed mother and two children | $3,932 | $4,074 |
| Aged widow(er) alone | $1,936 | $2,005 |
| Disabled worker, spouse and one or more children | $2,970 | $3,077 |
| All disabled workers | $1,642 | $1,701 |
The maximum benefit for a worker retiring at full retirement age rises from $4,152 to $4,188 a month. The SSI federal payment standard rises from $994 to $1,029 a month for an individual and from $1,491 to $1,544 for a couple.
When the higher payments arrive
SSI is normally paid on the first of the month. Jan. 1, 2027 is New Year’s Day, a federal holiday, so the January SSI payment, including the 3.6% increase, is paid on Thursday, Dec. 31, 2026.
Social Security retirement, survivor and disability benefits are paid on a Wednesday set by your birth date, under SSA’s published payment schedule:
| Your birth date | January 2027 payment date |
|---|---|
| 1st to 10th of the month | Wednesday, Jan. 13 |
| 11th to 20th | Wednesday, Jan. 20 |
| 21st to 31st | Wednesday, Jan. 27 |
| Benefits started before May 1997, or you also get SSI | Normally the 3rd; Jan. 3, 2027 is a Sunday, so it moves to the last business day before it, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2026 |
The December 2026 payment, made in December for the month of November, still uses the old amount. The first Social Security payment at the new rate is the one paid in January for December.
Other numbers that change on Jan. 1, 2027
The COLA announcement also sets the 2027 thresholds that affect workers and people who work while receiving benefits:
| Item | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum earnings taxed for Social Security | $184,500 | $192,300 |
| Earnings for one quarter of coverage | $1,890 | $1,970 |
| Earnings test, under full retirement age | $24,480 a year | $25,560 a year |
| Earnings test, year you reach full retirement age | $65,160 a year | $67,920 a year |
| Substantial gainful activity, non-blind | $1,690 a month | $1,770 a month |
| Substantial gainful activity, blind | $2,830 a month | $2,950 a month |
| Trial work period | $1,210 a month | $1,270 a month |
The payroll tax rate itself does not change: 7.65% for employees and 15.3% for the self-employed. Under the earnings test, SSA withholds $1 of benefits for every $2 earned above the limit before full retirement age, and $1 for every $3 above the higher limit in the year you reach it.
Federal retirees get a different raise
Retirees under the Civil Service Retirement System receive the same 3.6% increase. Retirees under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) get 2.6%, Federal News Network reports, because the FERS formula subtracts one percentage point when inflation is above 3%.
Medicare costs are still to come
Many retirees have Medicare Part B premiums deducted from their Social Security checks, so the final January deposit depends on that figure too. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services usually announces the new premium in November. The 2026 Medicare Trustees Report projected a standard 2027 premium of $209.50 a month, up from $202.90 in 2026, according to AARP. That is a projection, not the final number.
When you will see your exact amount
SSA says people with a personal my Social Security account can read their COLA notice online starting in late November, up to three weeks before the paper notice. To get it online, you must create an account and opt in to paperless notices by Nov. 18. Everyone else receives the notice by mail in December. The notice lists the new benefit amount and any deductions, including Medicare premiums.
Dates to put on your calendar
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2026 | Deadline to opt in to paperless notices to read the COLA notice online |
| Late November 2026 | COLA notices appear in my Social Security accounts |
| December 2026 | Paper COLA notices arrive by mail |
| Thursday, Dec. 31, 2026 | First SSI payment with the 3.6% increase |
| Jan. 13, 20 and 27, 2027 | First Social Security payments with the 3.6% increase |
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Social Security COLA for 2027?
3.6%. The Social Security Administration announced it on Oct. 14, 2026. It applies to Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
When will I get the 2027 COLA?
SSI recipients get it in the payment dated Dec. 31, 2026. Social Security beneficiaries see it in benefits paid in January 2027, on Jan. 13, 20 or 27 depending on birth date.
How much will the average benefit go up?
About $75 a month for retired workers. SSA estimates the average retired-worker benefit rises from $2,095 to $2,170 in January 2027.
Is this the biggest COLA in recent years?
It is the largest since the 8.7% increase for 2023. The COLA was 3.2% for 2024, 2.5% for 2025 and 2.8% for 2026.
When will I see my new benefit amount?
People with a my Social Security account can view their COLA notice online starting in late November. Paper notices go out by mail in December.
Sources
- Social Security Announces 3.6 Percent Benefit Increase for 2027 (Social Security Administration, 2026-10-14)
- 2027 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Fact Sheet (Social Security Administration)
- Schedule of Social Security Payments (Social Security Administration)
- Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Information (Social Security Administration)
- 2027 COLA is 3.6% for many retirees, but some feds will see a smaller adjustment (Federal News Network)
- Medicare Part B premium 2027 (AARP)
