Millions of Americans will receive higher monthly benefits next year—and the new Social Security increase is now official.
The Social Security Administration announced today, October 14 that benefits will rise by 3.6% in 2027, affecting approximately 76 million people who receive Social Security or Supplemental Security Income, known as SSI.
Retirement benefits will increase by an average of $75 a month.
But not everyone will receive the same dollar increase, and the higher payments won’t all begin on the same date.
Here’s what the announcement means for your benefits, when the adjustment starts, and how to check your exact amount.
What is the Social Security COLA for 2027?
The 2027 cost-of-living adjustment, commonly called COLA, is 3.6%.
The annual adjustment ties benefits to inflation using the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, or CPI-W. As explained in SSA’s 2027 COLA fact sheet, this year’s increase reflects the change in that index between the third quarter of 2025 and the third quarter of 2026.
The adjustment will apply to nearly 72 million Social Security beneficiaries and about 7.3 million SSI recipients.
How much more will you receive each month?
For the average retired worker, the monthly benefit is expected to rise from $2,095 to $2,170—a $75 increase.
That doesn’t mean every retiree will receive an extra $75. Your individual increase depends on your existing benefit amount, while the figures in SSA’s benefit estimates represent national averages.
Other estimated monthly changes include:
- Older couples with both spouses receiving benefits: an increase from $3,238 to $3,355, or $117 a month.
- Disabled workers: an increase from $1,642 to $1,701, or $59 a month.
- Older widows and widowers receiving benefits alone: an increase from $1,936 to $2,005, or $69 a month. 1839
SSI has separate federal payment standards. Those will rise from $994 to $1,029 a month for an individual and from $1,491 to $1,544 for a couple. These amounts are federal payment standards, not average retirement benefits or a guarantee of each recipient’s payment.
When will the higher payments begin?
Social Security beneficiaries will begin receiving the increase with benefits payable in January 2027.
SSI recipients will see the adjustment earlier: SSA’s announcement says increased SSI payments will begin on December 31, 2026.
How can you check your exact 2027 benefit amount?
Your personalized COLA notice will show your new benefit amount and any deductions, making it more useful than the national averages for figuring out what you’ll actually receive.
Online notices will become available in late November through the Message Center of your my Social Security account.
If you don’t already have an account, SSA says you’ll need to create one and enroll in paperless notices by November 18 to view your notice online. Mailed notices will arrive in December for people who haven’t enrolled in paperless delivery.
For beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare, the notice will also include their 2027 premium information. Because deductions can affect the final payment, a 3.6% benefit increase doesn’t necessarily mean your bank deposit will rise by exactly 3.6%.
What changes if you work while collecting Social Security?
The COLA isn’t the only update for 2027. SSA is also raising the earnings limits for people who work while collecting retirement benefits before full retirement age.
Under the new 2027 earnings limits:
- If you’re under full retirement age for the entire year, the annual limit will be $25,560. SSA withholds $1 in benefits for every $2 earned above that amount.
- If you reach full retirement age during 2027, the limit will be $67,920 for earnings in the months before you reach that age. SSA withholds $1 for every $3 earned above that amount.
- Starting with the month you reach full retirement age, the retirement earnings limit no longer applies.
These limits concern earnings from work while collecting benefits before full retirement age. They aren’t a cap on your monthly Social Security payment.
Is the COLA a separate payment?
No—the COLA adjusts your benefits rather than providing a separate bonus or stimulus check.
The newly announced 3.6% increase will be reflected in benefits according to the January Social Security and December 31 SSI start dates.
To see what that means for your own monthly budget, check your personalized notice when it becomes available.
It will show your new benefit amount and deductions, rather than an estimate based on the average recipient.