2027 COLA: 3.6%
The increase applies to benefits for December 2026, paid starting January 2027. Here is what it adds to a real monthly check.
3.6%. The average retired worker goes from $2,095 to $2,170 a month — an extra $75 a month, $900 a year. The COLA is national and identical for every state.
Verified 2026-11-07 · SSA 2027 COLA fact sheet
What your check becomes
Average benefits before and after
| Group | Before 3.6% | From January 2027 | Monthly increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| All retired workers | $2,095 | $2,170 | +$75 |
| Aged couple, both receiving | $3,238 | $3,355 | +$117 |
| Widowed mother and two children | $3,932 | $4,074 | +$142 |
| Aged widow(er) alone | $1,936 | $2,005 | +$69 |
| Disabled worker, spouse and children | $2,970 | $3,077 | +$107 |
| All disabled workers | $1,642 | $1,701 | +$59 |
How 3.6% was calculated
The COLA is the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from the third quarter of 2025 to the third quarter of 2026. If that change is negative, benefits do not fall — the COLA is zero, as it was in 2009, 2010 and 2015.
Questions
What is the 2027 Social Security COLA?
3.6%. It applies to benefits for December 2026, which are paid starting in January 2027. The average retired-worker benefit rises from $2,095 to $2,170 a month.
When will the 2027 COLA be announced?
SSA announced the 2027 figure on October 14, 2026, after the Bureau of Labor Statistics published September CPI-W data. The increase appears in the January 2027 payment.
Is the COLA different by state?
No. The COLA is a single national percentage set from the CPI-W for the whole country. There is no state-by-state COLA. What differs by state is whether state income tax applies to Social Security benefits.
Do SSI and disability recipients get the same increase?
Yes. SSI federal payment levels rise 3.6% for January 2027: $1,029 for an individual and $1,544 for a couple. Social Security disability benefits receive the same 3.6% COLA as retirement benefits.