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Social Security COLA 2027: your new check
The 3.6% increase in Social Security for 2027, what it adds to your check, when it arrives and what Medicare Part B takes back.
Social Security benefits rise 3.6% in 2027, starting with the payments made in January 2027. The average retired worker's check goes from $2,094 to $2,170 a month, $76 more, according to the Social Security Administration. A $2,000 check becomes $2,072.
Your new check
$2,072
$2,000 a month becomes $2,072 with the 3.6% COLA, $72 more.
After a Medicare Part B premium of $202.90: $1,869 a month.
| 2026 check | 2027 check | Raise | After Part B ($202.90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $1,036 | $36 | $833 |
| $1,500 | $1,554 | $54 | $1,351 |
| $2,000 | $2,072 | $72 | $1,869 |
| $2,500 | $2,590 | $90 | $2,387 |
| $3,000 | $3,108 | $108 | $2,905 |
| $4,000 | $4,144 | $144 | $3,941 |
Your 2027 check by amount
| Check in 2026 | Check in 2027 | Raise a month | 2027 after Part B |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $1,036 | $36 | $833 |
| $1,500 | $1,554 | $54 | $1,351 |
| $2,000 | $2,072 | $72 | $1,869 |
| $2,500 | $2,590 | $90 | $2,387 |
| $3,000 | $3,108 | $108 | $2,905 |
| $4,000 | $4,144 | $144 | $3,941 |
The last column takes out a Medicare Part B premium of $202.90, the 2026 standard amount. CMS announces the 2027 premium separately, usually in the fall; if it rises, the check after Part B is lower by the same amount. SSA rounds monthly payments down to the whole dollar.
When the raise arrives
| Who | First check with the COLA |
|---|---|
| Birthday on the 1st to the 10th | Wednesday, January 13, 2027 |
| Birthday on the 11th to the 20th | Wednesday, January 20, 2027 |
| Birthday on the 21st to the 31st | Wednesday, January 27, 2027 |
| SSI recipients | Thursday, December 31, 2026 |
Social Security is paid on the second, third or fourth Wednesday of the month, by birthday. People who got benefits before May 1997, or who get both Social Security and SSI, are paid on the 3rd; January 3, 2027 is a Sunday, so that payment comes earlier. SSI is normally paid on the 1st, and because January 1 is a holiday, the January SSI payment is made on December 31, 2026.
The COLA in recent years
| Benefits paid from January | COLA |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 8.7% |
| 2024 | 3.2% |
| 2025 | 2.5% |
| 2026 | 2.8% |
| 2027 | 3.6% |
The COLA follows the CPI-W, a consumer price index for urban wage earners. It compares the average for July to September with the same months of the year before: the third quarter of 2026 was 3.6% above the third quarter of 2025.
Other Social Security numbers for 2027
| Item | 2027 |
|---|---|
| Maximum earnings taxed for Social Security | $192,300 |
| Earnings limit before full retirement age | $25,560 a year ($1 withheld for every $2 above it) |
| Earnings limit in the year you reach full retirement age | $67,920 ($1 for every $3 above it) |
| Maximum federal SSI, individual | $1,029 a month |
| Maximum federal SSI, couple | $1,544 a month |
Questions people ask
How much is the Social Security increase for 2027?
3.6%. It applies to Social Security benefits and to SSI payments. For the average retired worker, the check rises by about $76 a month, from $2,094 to $2,170.
When will I get the 2027 COLA?
With the January 2027 payment: on January 13, 20 or 27 depending on your birthday. SSI recipients see it in the payment made on December 31, 2026.
How much will my Social Security check be in 2027?
Multiply your 2026 check by 1.036 and round down to the dollar: $1,500 becomes $1,554 and $2,500 becomes $2,590. The calculator above does it and takes out Medicare Part B.
What was the COLA for 2026?
2.8%, paid from January 2026. Before that it was 2.5% for 2025 and 3.2% for 2024.
Will Medicare Part B take part of the raise?
Part B is deducted from most checks, so a higher premium in 2027 would take back part of the raise. The 2026 standard premium is $202.90 a month; the 2027 amount has not been announced yet.
Related
The Social Security break-even calculator compares claiming ages, and retiring at 62 covers claiming early and health insurance until Medicare.
Sources
- Social Security Administration, Office of the Chief Actuary, Latest Cost-of-Living Adjustment (3.6% for 2027) and COLA history.
- Social Security Administration, Effect of the COLA on average benefits and 2027 COLA fact sheet.
- Social Security Administration, Schedule of Social Security Benefit Payments 2027 (Publication 05-10031).
- Social Security Administration, SSI Federal Payment Amounts for 2027.
- Medicare.gov, Medicare costs (2026 Part B standard premium).
Last reviewed by Asier Fernández, editor, on . Educational information only, not financial advice. How we calculate