Social Security benefits to increase 3.6% in 2027, adding average of $75 per month for retirees
Social Security benefits will increase by 3.6% in 2027, providing an average increase of $75 per month for retirees, the Social Security Administration announced.
Nearly 72 million Social Security beneficiaries will receive the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) beginning in January 2027. Increased payments for approximately 7.3 million Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients will begin Dec. 31, 2026.
The adjustment applies to Social Security retirement, survivors and disability benefits, as well as SSI payments. Some individuals receive both Social Security benefits and SSI.
“Social Security will implement this cost-of-living adjustment for 76 million Americans, giving them greater financial stability,” said Commissioner Frank J. Bisignano. “Under President Donald J. Trump, Social Security is delivering better, faster, higher-quality service for the American people.”
The annual increase is intended to help beneficiaries keep pace with rising living expenses, including housing, groceries, transportation and other everyday costs.
According to the agency, individuals with personal my Social Security accounts will be able to view their 2027 COLA notices online beginning in late November, up to three weeks before receiving a paper notice in the mail.
Account holders can also choose to receive text or email notifications when a new message, including their COLA notice, becomes available in their account’s Message Center.
Individuals who do not already have an account must create one and enroll in paperless notices by Nov. 18 to access their COLA information online. Those who have not enrolled in paperless notices will receive their notices by mail in December.
The agency said beneficiaries will receive a simplified, one-page COLA notice featuring personalized information about their new benefit amount, payment dates and any applicable deductions.
For individuals enrolled in Medicare, information about 2027 premium changes will be available through www.medicare.gov. Medicare premium amounts will also be accessible through the my Social Security Message Center beginning in late November.
The Social Security Administration calculates the annual COLA using changes in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, known as the CPI-W, as determined by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The formula, established under the Social Security Act, is designed to adjust benefits annually based on inflation.
Beneficiaries can create or access their personal Social Security accounts at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.
Additional information about the 2027 cost-of-living adjustment is available at www.ssa.gov/cola.
