The Official 2027 COLA: What the 3.6% Increase Means for You
On October 14, 2026, the Social Security Administration officially announced a 3.6% Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2027. According to the agency, this adjustment increases the average monthly retirement benefit by approximately $75, rising from roughly $2,095 to $2,170.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics third-quarter CPI-W inflation data determined this 3.6% boost for nearly 76 million Americans. The higher payments begin in January 2027 for nearly 72 million Social Security beneficiaries, while roughly 7.3 million SSI recipients see their first increased check on Thursday, December 31, 2026.
Other statutory thresholds will also adjust in January 2027 alongside the benefit boost. The annual earnings test limit for workers younger than full retirement age rises to $25,560, and the Social Security taxable wage cap increases to $192,300.
As of late October 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has not yet officially announced the 2027 Medicare Part B standard monthly premium or deductible. Once CMS publishes the official 2027 Part B rate in the fall, your net Social Security increase will reflect any automatic premium deduction.
You can view your personalized 2027 benefit notice online starting in late November through your my Social Security Message Center—if you create an account and opt into paperless notices by November 18, 2026. Otherwise, the agency will mail one-page paper COLA notices throughout December.
