The Social Security Administration has confirmed the cost-of-living adjustment for 2027: benefits will rise 3.6 percent, the largest increase since the 8.7 percent adjustment that took effect in 2023 and well above the 2.8 percent increase paid in 2026.

Nearly 72 million Social Security beneficiaries will see the higher amount beginning in January 2027. About 7.3 million people who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) will get their first increased payment on December 31, 2026, because January 1 is a holiday. Some people receive both types of benefits.

For the average retired worker, the monthly check rises from about $2,095 to about $2,170 — roughly $75 more per month, or about $900 over a full year. An aged widow or widower living alone goes from about $1,936 to about $2,005, and the average disabled worker rises from about $1,642 to about $1,701. These are gross amounts before any deductions such as Medicare premiums.

How the 3.6 percent was calculated: by law, the COLA is not chosen by politicians. It is set by a formula that compares the average Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) for July, August and September 2026 with the same three months of 2025. The 2025 third-quarter average was 317.265 and the 2026 average was 328.746 — a rise of 3.6 percent.

What to do now: nothing, if you already receive benefits. The increase is automatic — you do not need to apply, register, or activate anything. Anyone who contacts you claiming you must pay a fee or share personal information to receive the COLA is running a scam.

You can check your exact new amount in your personal my Social Security account. Online COLA notices appear in the Message Center in late November; to see yours online, create an account and enroll in paperless notices by November 18. Everyone else will receive a one-page COLA notice by mail in December.

The 2027 Medicare Part B premium has not been announced yet, so your final net check depends on that figure, which is expected in November.

Source: Social Security Administration press release, October 14, 2026 — https://www.ssa.gov/news/en/press/releases/2026-10-14.html

Related: Social Security COLA 2027 Update: What Retirees Need to Know Right Now