What changes in January 2027
| What | 2027 |
|---|---|
| COLA | 3.6% |
| Average retired worker (SSA estimate) | $2,095 → $2,170 a month |
| Maximum benefit at full retirement age | $4,188 a month |
| SSI federal payment | $1,029 one person, $1,544 couple |
| Earnings limit, under full retirement age | $25,560 a year |
| Earnings limit, the year you reach full retirement age | $67,920 a year |
| Maximum earnings taxed for Social Security | $192,300 |
How we estimate: Social Security applies the COLA to your base benefit before reductions and rounds it down to the dime, then rounds your payment down to the dollar after Medicare is taken out. Starting from the amount you get now, our result can differ from your notice by about a dollar.
When the COLA is announced
Every October, after the September inflation report. The 2027 COLA was announced on October 14, 2026. The next one, for 2028, will be announced in October 2027. We update this page the same day.
How the COLA is set
By law, it equals the rise in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). Social Security compares the average for July, August and September with the same months a year earlier. For 2027 that's the third quarter of 2025 against the third quarter of 2026.
Why your deposit may rise less
Most people have Medicare Part B taken out of their check. If the Part B premium goes up in 2027, part of your raise goes to Medicare. There is one protection, called hold harmless: if Part B comes out of your check and you don't pay the high-income surcharge, the Part B increase can't be bigger than your COLA increase, so your deposit can't go down. If your income is high, you may pay that extra amount, called IRMAA. Check your IRMAA tier.
COLA history
| 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% |
Social Security's own tables list each COLA by the December it takes effect, one year earlier than the January it's first paid. The amounts are the same.
Questions
What is the Social Security COLA for 2027?
3.6%. Social Security announced it on October 14, 2026. It applies to Social Security benefits starting with the January 2027 payment, and to SSI starting with the payment on December 31, 2026.
When is the COLA announced each year?
In October, after the September inflation numbers come out. The 2027 COLA was announced on October 14, 2026. The 2028 COLA will be announced in October 2027.
How much will my check go up?
Your benefit before deductions rises 3.6%, rounded down to the dollar. Social Security estimates the average retired worker goes from $2,095 to $2,170 a month. Your deposit also depends on the 2027 Medicare Part B premium, which is taken out of most checks.
How is the COLA calculated?
It is the increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from the third quarter of last year to the third quarter of this year. For 2027 that is the third quarter of 2025 to the third quarter of 2026.
Updated November 6, 2026. Sources: Social Security Administration, the 2027 COLA Fact Sheet; Social Security Administration, "Social Security Announces 3.6 Percent Benefit Increase for 2027"; SSA Office of the Chief Actuary, Cost-of-Living Adjustments; SSI Federal Payment Amounts for 2027. Estimates, not financial, tax or legal advice.