Last updated: November 3, 2026
Quick answer
Social Security and SSI benefits rise 3.6% for 2027, the largest increase in five years. The average retirement benefit goes from $2,095 to $2,170 a month, about $75 more.
- Social Security: the higher amount starts with your January 2027 payment.
- SSI: the increase arrives on December 31, 2026.
- Medicare: if Part B is deducted from your check, part of the raise goes to the higher 2027 premium.
AD
The 3.6% headline number tells you what everyone gets. It doesn’t tell you what will actually land in your bank account. That depends on your current benefit, whether Medicare Part B is taken out of your check, and any other deductions such as a drug plan or tax withholding.
For most retirees, the Part B premium is the biggest factor. Medicare announces the 2027 premium in the fall. It’s projected to rise from $202.90 to about $209.50 a month, which would take roughly $6.60 of your raise before you see it.
Enter your current payment in the calculator below to see your estimated 2027 check, your yearly gain and the date your first higher payment arrives. Further down you’ll find the new SSI amounts, the 2027 earnings limits for people who work while collecting, and whether the raise could make more of your benefits taxable.
2027 Social Security COLA Calculator
Part B: $202.90 in 2026. The 2027 figure is a projection until Medicare announces it; change it if you know the official amount. Other deductions: drug plan premium or tax withholding.
AD
How Much Your Check Goes Up in 2027
The table shows the 3.6% raise at common benefit amounts. The last two columns show what’s left after the Medicare Part B premium rises from $202.90 to the projected $209.50, for people who have Part B taken out of their check.
| 2026 benefit (before Medicare) | 2027 benefit | Raise | 2026 deposit after Part B | 2027 deposit after Part B | Net gain per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $1,036.00 | +$36.00 | $797 | $826 | +$29 |
| $1,250 | $1,295.00 | +$45.00 | $1,047 | $1,085 | +$38 |
| $1,500 | $1,554.00 | +$54.00 | $1,297 | $1,344 | +$47 |
| $1,750 | $1,813.00 | +$63.00 | $1,547 | $1,603 | +$56 |
| $2,000 | $2,072.00 | +$72.00 | $1,797 | $1,862 | +$65 |
| $2,095 (average) | $2,170.40 | +$75.40 | $1,892 | $1,960 | +$68 |
| $2,250 | $2,331.00 | +$81.00 | $2,047 | $2,121 | +$74 |
| $2,500 | $2,590.00 | +$90.00 | $2,297 | $2,380 | +$83 |
| $3,000 | $3,108.00 | +$108.00 | $2,797 | $2,898 | +$101 |
| $3,500 | $3,626.00 | +$126.00 | $3,297 | $3,416 | +$119 |
| $4,000 | $4,144.00 | +$144.00 | $3,797 | $3,934 | +$137 |
Estimates. Social Security rounds benefits down to the dime and payments down to the whole dollar. If you have a Medicare drug plan premium or tax withholding taken out, subtract it from both deposit columns; it doesn’t change your net gain unless that amount changes too.
Medicare Part B in 2027 and the “Hold Harmless” Rule
For most retirees, the Medicare Part B premium is deducted straight from their Social Security payment, so it’s the main reason the raise you see is smaller than 3.6%.
- 2026 standard premium: $202.90 a month.
- 2027 projection: about $209.50 a month, with the deductible expected to rise from $283 to about $292, based on the Medicare Trustees’ estimate. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announces the official figures in the fall.
The hold harmless rule protects people whose raise is very small. If your Social Security increase in dollars is less than the increase in your Part B premium, your premium rises only as much as your raise, so your net payment doesn’t go down. It generally applies if:
- Part B was deducted from your Social Security in November and December 2026, and
- you don’t pay a higher income-related premium (IRMAA), and
- you’re not newly enrolling in Medicare in 2027.
At a 3.6% COLA, almost everyone’s raise is larger than the projected $6.60 premium increase, so most people won’t need this protection in 2027. It mainly matters for very small benefits, under about $185 a month.
Higher earners: if your income two years ago (your 2025 tax return for 2027 premiums) was above the IRMAA thresholds, you’ll pay more than the standard premium. If your income has since dropped because you retired, you can ask Social Security to lower it using Form SSA-44.
When the New Amount Arrives: January 2027 Payment Dates
| If you… | Your first higher payment |
|---|---|
| Receive SSI | Thursday, December 31, 2026 |
| Started Social Security before May 1997, or get both Social Security and SSI | Thursday, December 31, 2026 |
| Were born on the 1st–10th | Wednesday, January 13, 2027 |
| Were born on the 11th–20th | Wednesday, January 20, 2027 |
| Were born on the 21st–31st | Wednesday, January 27, 2027 |
The December 31 payments are your January payments, moved up because January 1 is a holiday and January 3 falls on a Sunday. That means there’s no second SSI payment in January, so budget for it. Your December 2026 Social Security payment, paid in December, is still at the old 2026 amount.
SSI Amounts for 2027
| 2026 | 2027 | Increase | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual (federal maximum) | $994 | $1,029 | +$35 |
| Couple (federal maximum) | $1,491 | $1,544 | +$53 |
If your SSI is reduced because of other income, your payment usually rises by the same dollar amount ($35 or $53), as long as that other income doesn’t change. If you also get Social Security, your Social Security raise counts as income for SSI, so your SSI payment may go up less or not at all. Many states add a supplement to the federal amount, which can change the total.
Working While Collecting: 2027 Earnings Limits
If you claim Social Security before your full retirement age (67 for anyone born in 1960 or later) and keep working, Social Security may temporarily withhold part of your benefits once your earnings pass these limits:
| Situation | 2027 limit | What’s withheld above it |
|---|---|---|
| Under full retirement age all year | $25,560 a year ($2,130 a month) | $1 for every $2 you earn above the limit |
| The year you reach full retirement age | $67,920 a year ($5,660 a month), counting only earnings before the month you reach it | $1 for every $3 above the limit |
| From the month you reach full retirement age | No limit | Nothing |
Example: you’re 63, collect $1,800 a month and expect to earn $35,560 in 2027. That’s $10,000 over the limit, so Social Security withholds $5,000 of your benefits for the year, usually by holding back whole monthly payments at the start of the year until $5,000 is covered.
Withheld money isn’t lost. Once you reach full retirement age, Social Security recalculates your benefit to credit you for the months it held back, which raises your monthly payment from then on.
Could the Raise Make Your Benefits Taxable?
Possibly, because the federal thresholds for taxing Social Security have never been adjusted for inflation. Each COLA pushes more retirees over them.
The test uses your combined income: your adjusted gross income, plus nontaxable interest, plus half of your Social Security benefits.
| Combined income | Single | Married filing jointly |
|---|---|---|
| Benefits not taxed | Under $25,000 | Under $32,000 |
| Up to 50% of benefits taxable | $25,000–$34,000 | $32,000–$44,000 |
| Up to 85% of benefits taxable | Over $34,000 | Over $44,000 |
Example: a single retiree gets $24,000 a year in Social Security ($2,000 a month) and has $14,000 of other taxable income. Combined income is $14,000 + $12,000 = $26,000, just over the $25,000 threshold, so a small part of the benefits becomes taxable. After the 3.6% raise, half of benefits rises by about $432, nudging that taxable portion up slightly.
Two things to keep in mind:
- The senior deduction. For tax years 2025 through 2028, people 65 and older can claim an extra deduction of up to $6,000 each, reduced at higher incomes. It doesn’t change how much of your Social Security is taxable, but it can lower or wipe out the tax you owe on it.
- Withholding is optional. If you expect to owe, you can have federal tax withheld from your benefits by filing Form W-4V with Social Security.
Some states also tax Social Security benefits, while most don’t. Check your state’s rules.
How to Check Your Official 2027 Amount
- Sign in to my Social Security at ssa.gov. Your COLA notice usually appears in the Message Center in early December.
- Watch for a mailed notice in December if you haven’t opted for online-only notices.
- Compare it with your January deposit. The notice shows your new benefit, your Medicare deduction and the amount you’ll be paid.
Be careful with calls, texts or emails claiming you must “verify” your account to get the COLA. The increase is automatic; you never need to do anything to receive it.
Other Social Security Changes for 2027
| Item | 2027 |
|---|---|
| Maximum earnings subject to Social Security tax | $192,300 (up from $184,500) |
| Maximum monthly benefit at full retirement age | $4,188 |
| Earnings needed for one work credit | $1,970 |
| Substantial gainful activity (disability), non-blind | $1,770 a month |
| Substantial gainful activity, blind | $2,950 a month |
Average monthly benefits after the COLA, according to Social Security: retired workers $2,170, aged couples both receiving benefits $3,355, widows and widowers living alone $2,005, and disabled workers $1,701.
How the COLA Is Calculated, and Recent History
The COLA is based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). Social Security compares the average CPI-W for July, August and September with the same three months a year earlier. The percentage rise becomes the next year’s COLA.
| Year | COLA |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 8.7% |
| 2024 | 3.2% |
| 2025 | 2.5% |
| 2026 | 2.8% |
| 2027 | 3.6% |
The 2027 increase is the largest since 2023. Keep in mind that the COLA tracks inflation that has already happened: it helps your benefit keep up with past price increases rather than giving you extra spending power.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Social Security COLA for 2027?
3.6%. It applies to Social Security benefits starting with the January 2027 payment and to SSI payments starting December 31, 2026.
How much will the average Social Security check go up in 2027?
The average retirement benefit rises from $2,095 to $2,170 a month, an increase of about $75 before Medicare premiums. With the projected Part B increase, the average net gain is closer to $68 a month.
When will I get the 2027 Social Security increase?
With your January 2027 payment: January 13, 20 or 27 depending on your birth date, or December 31, 2026 if you get SSI, started benefits before May 1997, or receive both Social Security and SSI.
How much will Medicare take out of my 2027 Social Security?
The standard Part B premium was $202.90 in 2026 and is projected at about $209.50 for 2027. Medicare announces the official amount in the fall. Higher-income beneficiaries pay more.
What is the maximum SSI payment in 2027?
The federal maximum is $1,029 a month for an individual and $1,544 for a couple. Some states add a supplement.
Do I need to apply for the COLA?
No. The increase is automatic. Your new amount appears in a COLA notice in December, online in your my Social Security account and by mail.
About the author
Nurkan Aydoğan is the founder of AYD Media and has worked in banking for more than 20 years, in roles spanning customer service, foreign trade, IT projects and business analysis. He writes about household finances, credit and how official changes affect people’s monthly budgets.
Sources