💵 Money › Retirement & Social Security › Social Security 2027
Official: 3.6% COLASocial Security 2027: 3.6% COLA, new amounts and January payment dates
By The Trends Incoming team · Published Oct 17, 2026 · Official SSA sources only
It's locked in. On October 14 the Social Security Administration announced a 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment for 2027. That's about $75 more a month for the average retiree. Nearly 72 million Social Security beneficiaries get it starting in January, and about 7.3 million SSI recipients get it a day early, on December 31, 2026. Here's your calendar, a quick calculator, and the one deadline to know.
| COLA for 2027 | 3.6% |
|---|---|
| Average retiree | About +$75 a month ($2,095 to $2,170, SSA estimate) |
| SSI raise starts | Payment dated Dec 31, 2026 |
| Social Security raise starts | January 2027 payments |
| See your notice online | Create a my Social Security account and go paperless by Nov 18, 2026 |
| 2027 Medicare Part B premium | Not announced yet |
🧮 Estimate your 2027 benefit
Estimate only, not personal advice. This multiplies the number you type by 1.036. It runs in your browser and nothing is sent anywhere. SSA rounds amounts and subtracts things like Medicare premiums, so your official COLA notice is the real number.
📊 What 3.6% looks like
Straight math at common benefit levels. Your notice may differ by a few cents because of SSA rounding, and any Medicare premium comes out after.
| Monthly benefit now | Times 1.036 | Increase |
|---|---|---|
| $800 | $828.80 | +$28.80 |
| $1,000 | $1,036.00 | +$36.00 |
| $1,500 | $1,554.00 | +$54.00 |
| $2,000 | $2,072.00 | +$72.00 |
| $2,500 | $2,590.00 | +$90.00 |
| $3,000 | $3,108.00 | +$108.00 |
| $3,500 | $3,626.00 | +$126.00 |
| $4,000 | $4,144.00 | +$144.00 |
SSA's own estimates for January 2027:
| Group | Before 3.6% COLA | After |
|---|---|---|
| All retired workers (average) | $2,095 | $2,170 |
| Aged couple, both receiving benefits (average) | $3,238 | $3,355 |
| Aged widow(er) alone (average) | $1,936 | $2,005 |
| All disabled workers (average) | $1,642 | $1,701 |
| SSI federal payment standard, individual | $994 | $1,029 |
| SSI federal payment standard, couple | $1,491 | $1,544 |
🗓️ Your payment calendar
Which Wednesday you're paid depends on the birthday of the person whose work record the benefit is based on. SSI is paid on the 1st, and a few groups are paid on the 3rd. When those land on a weekend or holiday, the money comes the business day before.
| Date | Who | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Wed Nov 18, 2026 | Everyone who wants the notice online | Last day to create a my Social Security account and opt into paperless notices to see the COLA notice online. |
| Thu Dec 31, 2026 | SSI recipients | January SSI payment, paid early because Jan 1 is New Year's Day. First payment with the 3.6% raise. |
| Thu Dec 31, 2026 | 3rd-of-month group (benefits started before May 1997, or Social Security plus SSI) | January Social Security payment, paid early because Jan 3 is a Sunday. Includes the 3.6% raise. |
| Wed Jan 13, 2027 | Birthday on the 1st to 10th | Second Wednesday. First Social Security payment with the 3.6% raise. |
| Wed Jan 20, 2027 | Birthday on the 11th to 20th | Third Wednesday. First Social Security payment with the 3.6% raise. |
| Wed Jan 27, 2027 | Birthday on the 21st to 31st | Fourth Wednesday. First Social Security payment with the 3.6% raise. |
Dates follow SSA's published payment-day rules and SSA's 2027 payment calendar. If your SSA notice says something different, your notice wins.
📬 Get your COLA notice early
SSA says online notices start showing up in late November, up to three weeks before the paper one. To get yours online:
- Create or sign in to my Social Security on ssa.gov.
- Opt into paperless notices by November 18, 2026.
- Turn on text or email alerts so you know when the notice lands in your Message Center.
Not paperless? Your notice comes by mail in December. SSA asks people to wait until January before calling about a mailed notice.
Only use ssa.gov. SSA doesn't need you to pay or "activate" anything to get the COLA.
Still unconfirmed
- 2027 Medicare Part B premium: not announced. SSA says it will appear in the Message Center from late November. We'll update this page and show the raise after Part B.
- Exact online notice date: SSA only says "late November" (its FAQ also mentions early December for some).
Want the backstory? Read our 2027 COLA explainer, and if you're on Medicare, compare plans during Medicare open enrollment (Oct 15 to Dec 7).
Quick answers
How much will my Social Security go up in 2027?
Benefits rise 3.6 percent. SSA says the average retirement benefit goes up about $75 a month, from an estimated $2,095 to $2,170. Your exact amount is on your COLA notice.
When will I get the 2027 COLA?
SSI recipients get it with the December 31, 2026 payment. Social Security beneficiaries get it starting with the January 2027 payment, on January 13, 20 or 27 depending on birthday, or December 31, 2026 for the 3rd-of-month group.
Why did my SSI come on December 31?
SSI is normally paid on the 1st. January 1, 2027 is New Year's Day, so the January payment is paid on the business day before, December 31, 2026. There is no separate January SSI payment.
How do I see my COLA notice online?
Create a personal my Social Security account and enroll in paperless notices by November 18, 2026. SSA says online notices start in late November. People not enrolled in paperless get a mailed notice in December.
What is the 2027 Medicare Part B premium?
Not announced yet. SSA says the 2027 premium will show in the my Social Security Message Center starting in late November. We'll add it here when it's official.
Do I need to apply for the COLA?
No. The increase is automatic.
Dig into the conversation
Sources
- SSA press release: 3.6 percent benefit increase for 2027 (Oct 14, 2026)
- SSA 2027 COLA fact sheet
- SSA FAQ: how much is the 2027 COLA and when will I receive it?
- SSA FAQ: which day of the month you are paid
- SSA Schedule of Social Security Payments (2026 and 2027 calendars)
- SSA COLA page
- Create or sign in to my Social Security
By The Trends Incoming team · Fact-checked 2026-10-17. Dates change, so double-check with the official source.