Social Security benefits will rise 3.6% in January 2027. That is about $75 more a month for the average retired worker, the Social Security Administration said on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
The cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, is the largest since 2023 and reaches about 76 million Americans. It is bigger than the 2.8% raise retirees got this year.
How much will Social Security go up in 2027?
The raise is a flat percentage of each person's benefit. Here is what 3.6% means at different levels:
| Monthly benefit in 2026 | Increase (3.6%) | New 2027 benefit |
|---|---|---|
| $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 |
Approximate figures before any Medicare premium or tax deductions.
The average retired worker will get about $75 a month, or roughly $900 a year. The average check will rise to about $2,160 to $2,170, depending on which estimate is used.
Typical January 2027 benefits, according to SSA figures reported by NewsNation:
| Beneficiary type | Average monthly benefit, January 2027 |
|---|---|
| Aged couple, both receiving benefits | $3,355 |
| Aged widow(er) alone | $2,005 |
| Disabled worker, spouse and children | $3,077 |
| All disabled workers | $1,701 |
When will I see the increase?
- SSI recipients: the higher payment is dated December 31, 2026.
- Social Security recipients: the increase starts with January 2027 payments.
- Late November: most people can see their new amount in the my Social Security online Message Center.
- Early December: the SSA begins mailing COLA notices.
You don't need to do anything. The raise is applied automatically.
Why is the COLA bigger this year?
The COLA follows inflation. The SSA compares the average CPI-W, a price index for urban wage earners, in July, August and September with the same months a year earlier.
Inflation has picked up sharply. The broader consumer price index rose 3.7% in the year to September, driven by a surge in gasoline and energy prices. Our September inflation report breakdown has the details.
"Social Security will implement this cost-of-living adjustment for 76 million Americans," SSA Commissioner Frank Bisignano said.
COLA history: how 2027 compares
| Year | COLA |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 8.7% |
| 2024 | 3.2% |
| 2025 | 2.5% |
| 2026 | 2.8% |
| 2027 | 3.6% |
Will Medicare eat into the raise?
Some of it, for most retirees. Medicare Part B premiums are usually deducted straight from Social Security checks. Medicare's trustees project the standard premium will rise from $202.90 to $209.50 a month in 2027. The official number is due later this fall.
If the projection holds, the average retiree would keep about $68 of the $75 raise. AARP chief executive Myechia Minter-Jordan said there is "a lot on the line financially right now for older Americans."
Medicare open enrollment is under way now. See our Medicare open enrollment guide for what is changing.
Other 2027 Social Security numbers
| Item | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Taxable maximum | $184,500 | $192,300 |
| Maximum benefit at full retirement age | — | $4,188 a month |
| COLA | 2.8% | 3.6% |
What to watch
The Part B premium announcement this fall will show how much of the raise retirees actually keep. And the 2027 tax brackets, due from the IRS in the coming weeks, will determine how much of it is taxed.
Published Monday, October 19, 2026. Figures are from the Social Security Administration's October 14 announcement as reported by Fox Business, NewsNation and the Plan Sponsor Council of America, and from the Medicare trustees' projection reported by AARP.
