SOCIAL SECURITY UPDATE
Social Security COLA 2027: 3.6% Increase, Official
The official 2027 Social Security cost-of-living adjustment is 3.6%. SSA announced it on October 14, 2026, the same morning BLS published the September 2026 Consumer Price Index. It applies to Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. See SSA’s 2027 COLA page.
When the 3.6% increase shows up
SSA says the 3.6% COLA begins with Social Security benefits payable in January 2027. That is the benefit for December 2026, paid in January. Increased SSI payments begin on December 31, 2026. SSA: COLA timing for 2027.
SSA says COLA notices will be in the Message Center of my Social Security accounts in late November 2026, and paper notices go out by mail in December. Your notice shows your own new amount and any deductions. SSA press release.
Check the math: how 3.6% was calculated
SSA uses the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). The COLA is the percentage increase from the third-quarter 2025 CPI-W average to the third-quarter 2026 average, rounded to the nearest tenth of 1%. SSA explains the calculation.
The three CPI-W values BLS published for 2026 (series CWUR0000SA0, not seasonally adjusted):
The third-quarter 2025 base is 317.265.
Average for July to September 2026: (327.104 + 328.481 + 330.654) ÷ 3 = 986.239 ÷ 3 = 328.746
Increase: (328.746 − 317.265) ÷ 317.265 × 100 = 3.62%, which rounds to 3.6%.
Our check matches SSA’s announced 3.6%. SSA’s official figure is the one that counts.
Other 2027 figures SSA published with the COLA
These come from SSA’s 2027 COLA fact sheet.
- SSI federal payment standard: $1,029 a month for an individual and $1,544 a month for a couple (2026: $994 and $1,491).
- Maximum earnings subject to Social Security tax: $192,300 (2026: $184,500).
- Earnings test for people under full retirement age: $25,560 a year. SSA withholds $1 for every $2 earned above it.
- Earnings test in the year you reach full retirement age: $67,920 a year. SSA withholds $1 for every $3 earned above it, for months before full retirement age.
- Substantial gainful activity (disability): $1,770 a month (non-blind) and $2,950 a month (blind).
- SSI resource limits stay at $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple.
SSA estimates the average retired worker’s benefit goes from $2,095 to $2,170 a month in January 2027. That is an average across all retirees, not your amount. Your COLA notice shows your own figure.
What we could not verify
2027 Medicare Part B premiums and deductibles are not part of SSA’s announcement. CMS sets them, and we found no 2027 figures from CMS as of this update. If you have Part B taken out of your check, the premium change will affect how much of the 3.6% you see. SSA says to check Medicare.gov for 2027 Medicare changes.
Related guides
Sources
- Social Security Administration: press release, 3.6 percent benefit increase for 2027 (October 14, 2026)
- Social Security Administration: 2027 COLA fact sheet
- Social Security Administration: COLA information for 2027
- Social Security Administration: latest COLA information and calculation
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: CPI-W series CWUR0000SA0
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: CPI release schedule
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See SSA’s 2027 COLA information →