Social Security Announces Official 3.6 Percent COLA for 2027, Raising Average Check by $75

The Social Security Administration announced on October 14, 2026, that benefits will increase by 3.6 percent in 2027, adding approximately $75 per month to the average retiree's monthly check. The adjustment affects approximately 76 million Americans, including nearly 72 million Social Security beneficiaries and about 7.3 million Supplemental Security Income recipients.

The 2027 cost-of-living adjustment was calculated using the increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers from the third quarter of 2025 through the third quarter of 2026. By law, this index, provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, serves as the official metric for calculating the annual adjustment.

The average monthly benefit for retired workers is projected to rise from $2,095 to $2,170. Aged couples where both receive benefits will see payments increase from $3,238 to $3,355. The average monthly payment for all disabled workers will rise from $1,642 to $1,701.

SSI recipients will see their increased payments begin on December 31, 2026. For all other beneficiaries, the increase takes effect in January 2027.

The SSA also announced several other program updates for 2027. The maximum amount of earnings subject to Social Security tax will increase from $184,500 to $192,300. For workers under full retirement age, the earnings limit will rise to $25,560 per year. For those reaching full retirement age in 2027, the limit increases to $67,920.

The SSI federal payment standard for individuals will increase to $1,029 per month, and for couples, it will rise to $1,544 per month.

Beneficiaries enrolled in paperless notices will be able to view their COLA notices in the Message Center of their personal my Social Security accounts starting in late November 2026. Others will receive notices by mail in December 2026.