How much will my check go up in 2027?
Enter your current monthly benefit before deductions. The result applies the official 3.6% COLA; Medicare premium changes are not included.
2027 benefit with 3.6% COLA
$1,864.80
+$64.80 a month, +$777.60 a year
When the 2027 COLA shows up in your payments
Social Security payments are paid in arrears, so the increase first appears in the payment for December 2026, which arrives in January 2027. SSI is paid for the current month, and because January 1, 2027 is a federal holiday, the first increased SSI payment arrives early on Thursday, December 31, 2026.
- SSI: Thursday, December 31, 2026
- Social Security paid on the 3rd: Thursday, December 31, 2026
- Born 1st to 10th: Wednesday, January 13, 2027
- Born 11th to 20th: Wednesday, January 20, 2027
- Born 21st to 31st: Wednesday, January 27, 2027
2027 Social Security and SSI amounts after the COLA
These are the official figures from SSA's 2027 COLA fact sheet, compared with 2026.
| Item | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| SSI federal payment standard, individual | $994/mo | $1,029/mo |
| SSI federal payment standard, couple | $1,491/mo | $1,544/mo |
| Maximum benefit at full retirement age | $4,152/mo | $4,188/mo |
| Earnings limit, under full retirement age | $24,480/yr | $25,560/yr |
| Earnings limit, year you reach full retirement age | $65,160/yr | $67,920/yr |
| Substantial gainful activity (non-blind) | $1,690/mo | $1,770/mo |
| Substantial gainful activity (blind) | $2,830/mo | $2,950/mo |
| Trial work period | $1,210/mo | $1,270/mo |
| Maximum taxable earnings | $184,500 | $192,300 |
| One quarter of coverage | $1,890 | $1,970 |
Estimated average monthly benefits, January 2027
| Beneficiary | Before COLA | After COLA |
|---|---|---|
| All retired workers | $2,095 | $2,170 |
| Aged couple, both receiving benefits | $3,238 | $3,355 |
| Aged widow(er) alone | $1,936 | $2,005 |
| All disabled workers | $1,642 | $1,701 |
| Disabled worker, spouse and children | $2,970 | $3,077 |
| Widowed mother and two children | $3,932 | $4,074 |
SSA estimates. Your own increase depends on your benefit amount.
Social Security COLA history
The COLA is set each October from the CPI-W and takes effect with the December benefit, paid in January. The 2027 increase is higher than last year's 2.8%.
| Paid from January | COLA |
|---|---|
| 2027 | 3.6% |
| 2026 | 2.8% |
| 2025 | 2.5% |
| 2024 | 3.2% |
| 2023 | 8.7% |
| 2022 | 5.9% |
| 2021 | 1.3% |
| 2020 | 1.6% |
| 2019 | 2.8% |
| 2018 | 2.0% |
COLA 2027: common questions
What is the COLA for 2027?
The 2027 cost-of-living adjustment is 3.6%. Social Security announced it on October 1, 2026, based on the increase in the CPI-W from the third quarter of 2025 to the third quarter of 2026.
When will I see the 2027 COLA in my check?
Social Security beneficiaries see it in their January 2027 payment (from December 31, 2026 for people paid on the 3rd, and January 13, 2027 to January 27, 2027 for the Wednesday groups). SSI recipients get the increase on Thursday, December 31, 2026, when January SSI is paid early.
How much is SSI in 2027?
The federal SSI payment standard for 2027 is $1,029/mo for an individual and $1,544/mo for a couple. Some states add a supplement.
How much will my Social Security check go up in 2027?
Multiply your current monthly benefit by 3.6%. SSA estimates the average retired worker's benefit rises from $2,095 to $2,170 a month. Medicare Part B premium changes can reduce the net increase.
Does the COLA change my payment date?
No. The COLA changes the amount only. Your payment day still follows your birth-date Wednesday, the 3rd, or the 1st for SSI.
Payment schedules
Official sources
- Social Security Announces 3.6 Percent Benefit Increase for 2027(Social Security Administration)
- 2027 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Fact Sheet(Social Security Administration)
- Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) history(Social Security Administration)