Social Security benefits will rise by 3.6% in 2027 under the annual cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, announced by the Social Security Administration on October 14, 2026. This guide explains what that raise means, because the announcement itself is not new today, and two practical questions are still current: a November deadline for seeing your personal amount early, and a Medicare figure that has not been announced yet.
The 3.6% increase is the largest since 2023, according to the SSA, compared with 2.8% for 2026. It applies to Social Security benefits and to Supplemental Security Income, known as SSI.
How Much More Will People Receive?
The SSA says nearly 72 million Social Security beneficiaries will see the adjustment, and about 76 million Americans in total are affected when SSI recipients are included. Some people receive both types of payment, which is why the agency uses both figures.
On average, the retirement benefit rises by about $75 a month starting in January 2027, according to the SSA. One independent estimate puts the average retired-worker check at about $2,170 in January 2027, and that figure should be treated as an estimate, not an official amount for any individual. Your own raise depends on your own current benefit.
Increased SSI payments begin on December 31, 2026, because January 1 is a federal holiday, according to the SSA.
The November 18 Deadline That Matters Now
Beneficiaries will be able to see their personal COLA notice online in late November, up to three weeks before the mailed notice arrives, according to the SSA. To use that early online option, you need a my Social Security account and you must enroll in paperless notices by November 18, 2026.
The notice uses a simplified one-page format that shows the exact new dollar amount for your benefit. If knowing that amount in November would help you plan a household budget for January, that deadline is the action to take now.
The Missing Number: Medicare Part B
The net raise many retirees actually keep is still unknown, because the 2027 Medicare Part B premium has not been announced yet. For most beneficiaries, that premium is deducted directly from the Social Security check.
Until the Part B figure is published, the 3.6% headline increase should not be treated as the final increase in take-home pay. The exact net amount will only be clear once the premium is set and your personal notice is available.
Other 2027 Figures to Know
- The Social Security wage base for 2027 is $192,300, according to the SSA figure cited in tax guidance.
- Federal retirees under CSRS receive the full 3.6%, while those under FERS receive 2.6% under the diet COLA rule, according to federal retirement reporting.
- The official average increase is about $75 a month for retirement benefits from January 2027.
Key Takeaways
- The 3.6% COLA for 2027 was announced on October 14. It is the largest since 2023.
- Enroll in paperless notices by November 18 to see your personal amount online in late November.
- The 2027 Medicare Part B premium has not been announced, so the net raise is not final yet.
Check TodayTrend for updates when the Medicare Part B premium and personal COLA notices are released.