How Much Your Benefit Goes Up

Your raise is 3.6% of your own monthly benefit before deductions, not the $75 average.

The 2027 Social Security COLA is 3.6%. SSA announced the COLA increase on October 14, 2026. It is based on the CPI-W from the third quarter of 2025 to the third quarter of 2026. It is the largest COLA since 2023, when it was 8.7%. The 2026 COLA was 2.8%.

To estimate your raise, multiply your current gross benefit by 0.036. SSA rounds the new amount down, so its figure can differ from yours by a dollar.

• Current benefit $1,000 → new about $1,036 → raise about $36
• Current benefit $1,500 → new about $1,554 → raise about $54
• Current benefit $2,095 → new about $2,170 → raise about $75
• Current benefit $3,000 → new about $3,108 → raise about $108

Nearly 72 million people get Social Security. About 7.3 million get SSI. Some get both, and SSA counts 76 million people in all.

A few outlets printed slightly different averages for retired workers. We use the SSA fact sheet table above.

What Reaches Your Bank After Medicare

The 3.6% applies to your gross benefit, but if Part B comes out of your check, your deposit grows by your raise minus any increase in the premium.

How the Part B deduction works

If you get Social Security, Medicare usually takes the Part B premium out of your check before the deposit. Your SSA notice shows the gross benefit, the Part B line and the net amount.

So when the premium goes up, it eats into your raise dollar for dollar. Only the premium increase matters here, not the whole premium.

Last year’s math, as a guide and not a forecast: the standard premium rose $17.90, from $185.00 to $202.90, and the COLA was 2.8%. At $1,000 a month, the raise was about $28, so about $10 was left after the premium increase.

SSA says Medicare enrollees can see their 2027 premium amount in the my Social Security Message Center starting in late November.

Hold-harmless: what it does and doesn’t do

Hold-harmless is a rule that keeps a Part B premium increase from making your net Social Security check smaller than the year before. It does not promise you the full raise.

Last year’s math again: at $600 a month, a 2.8% raise is about $16. That is less than the $17.90 premium increase. A person protected by hold-harmless would see the premium rise by only the raise, so the net check stayed the same.

SSA’s published conditions say you must be entitled to Social Security benefits for November and December, and have Part B deducted from your benefit around the turn of the year. The rule does not apply if you are new to Part B, if you pay an income-related premium (IRMAA), or if a state Medicaid agency pays your premium. Check your notice for the exact months.

See SSA’s hold-harmless explainer.

IRMAA: the surcharge hold-harmless doesn’t cover

IRMAA is an income-related surcharge on top of the standard premium. It is based on your tax return from two years earlier. Hold-harmless does not protect IRMAA payers, so their full premium increase comes out of the raise.

For brackets and surcharges, read our IRMAA brackets guide. If your income dropped because of a major life event, SSA lets you ask to lower your IRMAA.

Voluntary withholding and other deductions

If you chose federal tax withholding (Form W-4V), it is usually a percentage of your benefit. A bigger benefit means a bigger withholding amount. Garnishments and overpayment recovery can also reduce a deposit.

Checklist: Why is my raise smaller than 3.6%?

1. Compare gross to gross, not deposit to deposit — the 3.6% applies before deductions.
2. Check your Part B line on the notice — the 2027 premium is deducted first.
3. IRMAA? Your premium includes a surcharge, and hold-harmless doesn’t apply.
4. Voluntary tax withholding (Form W-4V) scales with your benefit.
5. Garnishments or offsets (federal debts, overpayment recovery — see our overpayment letter guide).
6. Still working before FRA? The earnings test may be withholding benefits.
7. Still unclear? Read your notice in my Social Security, then contact SSA through official channels only.

When You’ll See It

Higher Social Security payments begin in January 2027, SSI’s higher payment arrives December 31, 2026, and your personal amount shows online in late November.

The notice

People with a personal my Social Security account can see their COLA notice online starting in late November. That is up to three weeks earlier than the paper notice. Someone without an account needs to create one and enroll in paperless notices by November 18 to see it online.

If you have not enrolled in paperless notices, your notice arrives by mail in December. You do not need to apply or do anything to get the increase.

January 2027 payment dates

Social Security pays by birthday on the second, third and fourth Wednesdays. The third-of-the-month group and SSI move earlier this time, because January 3, 2027 is a Sunday and January 1 is a holiday.

A printed SSA schedule may still show January 3 or January 1. When a payment date lands on a weekend or holiday, SSA pays on the last business day before it, which is December 31, 2026.

• Group 1Birthdays on the 1st–10thWednesday, Jan. 13, 2027
• Group 2Birthdays on the 11th–20thWednesday, Jan. 20, 2027
• Group 3Birthdays on the 21st–31stWednesday, Jan. 27, 2027
• 3rd-of-month groupBenefits before May 1997, or Social Security plus SSIThursday, Dec. 31, 2026
• SSIJanuary benefit paid earlyThursday, Dec. 31, 2026

The tax-year rule for the December 31 payment

For Social Security benefits paid early on December 31, 2026, federal law treats the payment as paid in 2027 for taxing Social Security benefits. That avoids 13 payments in one tax year and 11 in the next.

This rule does not apply to SSI, which is not taxable. If you have questions about your tax form, ask a tax professional or see IRS Publication 915.

Every 2027 Number That Changed

Social Security changes for 2027 mostly follow wages or inflation, and the 2027 Part B premium is the one number still missing.

• COLA2026: 2.8%
  3.6%
• Taxable maximum2026: $184,500
  $192,300
• Earnings test, under full retirement age2026: $24,480 a year$1 withheld per $2 over
  $25,560 a year
• Earnings test, year you reach full retirement age2026: $65,160 a year$1 withheld per $3 over
  $67,920 a year
• Quarter of coverage2026: $1,890
  $1,970
• Maximum benefit at full retirement age2026: $4,152 a month
  $4,188 a month
• SSI, individual2026: $994 a month
  $1,029 a month
• SSI, couple2026: $1,491 a month
  $1,544 a month
• SSI resource limits2026: $2,000 / $3,000
  Unchanged
• Substantial gainful activity, non-blind2026: $1,690 a month
  $1,770 a month
• Substantial gainful activity, blind2026: $2,830 a month
  $2,950 a month
• Trial work period month2026: $1,210 a month
  $1,270 a month
• Part B standard premium2026: $202.90 a month
  Pending

The taxable maximum is the cap on earnings that pay the 6.2% Social Security payroll tax. It is not a limit on your benefit.

A quarter of coverage is the amount of covered earnings that buys one work credit. In 2027 it is $1,970, so $7,880 in covered earnings earns the maximum four credits for the year.

Still Working? The 2027 Earnings Limits

If you claim before full retirement age and keep working, SSA withholds $1 of benefits for every $2 you earn above $25,560 in 2027.

• Under full retirement age, earning $30,000: that is $4,440 over, so SSA withholds about $2,220 across the year.
• Year you reach full retirement age, earning $70,920 before that month: that is $3,000 over, so SSA withholds about $1,000.

Withheld benefits are not simply lost. SSA adjusts your benefit when you reach full retirement age to account for the months it withheld.

What counts, and what doesn’t

For the earnings test, SSA counts wages from a job and net earnings from self-employment. It counts your gross pay, so 401(k) deferrals don’t reduce it.

SSA does not count pensions, annuities, investment income, interest, veterans’ benefits, other government or military retirement benefits, or withdrawals from an IRA or 401(k), including Roth withdrawals. Those can still matter for benefit taxes and IRMAA, which are different tests.

• Earnings test (benefits withheld)Counts: wages and net self-employment earnings, before full retirement age.Doesn’t count: pensions, annuities, investment income, interest, IRA and 401(k) withdrawals.SSA: how work affects benefits
• Benefit taxation (federal income tax)Counts: combined income — adjusted gross income, tax-exempt interest, and half of your Social Security benefits.Doesn’t count: SSI payments (not taxable).IRS Publication 915
• IRMAA (Medicare surcharge)Counts: modified adjusted gross income from your tax return two years earlier.Doesn’t count: this year’s income (it looks back two years).Our IRMAA guide

Deciding when to claim while still working is a bigger question than the earnings test alone. See when to take Social Security.

Will Your Benefits Be Taxed?

Some people pay federal income tax on part of their benefits, depending on combined income, and the thresholds are not adjusted for inflation.

“85% taxable” means up to 85% of your benefits counts as income. It is not an 85% tax. If you got $30,000 in benefits and 85% is taxable, $25,500 is added to your taxable income and taxed at your ordinary rate.

SSI is not taxable. Some states tax benefits too, so check your state.

The new $6,000 senior deduction is a separate deduction on your return. It is not part of how benefits are taxed, and it does not change your COLA.

If you want tax taken out of your check, ask SSA for withholding with Form W-4V. See IRS Publication 915 for the worksheets. This is general information, not tax advice.

SSI and SSDI Notes

SSDI gets the same 3.6% as retirement benefits, while SSI works differently.

SSI

The 2027 SSI federal payment standard is $1,029 a month for an individual and $1,544 for a couple, up from $994 and $1,491. Your payment is that standard minus your countable income.

If your countable income stays the same, your SSI payment rises by the same dollar amount as the standard: about $35 for an individual and $53 for a couple. The higher payment arrives on December 31, 2026. The resource limits stay at $2,000 and $3,000.

If you get both SSDI and SSI, your Social Security counts as income for SSI, so the two changes work against each other. Your notice shows the exact amounts.

SSDI

SSDI uses the same 3.6% and the same January payment dates. If you work, the 2027 substantial gainful activity amount is $1,770 a month ($2,950 if blind), and a trial work period month is $1,270. If you get disability benefits and start work, tell SSA.

Avoid COLA Scams

You never have to pay anything or sign up anywhere to get the COLA.

SSA says it will never promise a benefit increase in exchange for payment, or demand payment by gift card, wire transfer, internet currency or cash by mail. If a call, text or email claims to need money or personal information to “activate” your raise, don’t respond.

To check your amount, type ssa.gov/myaccount yourself and sign in. Report suspected fraud at oig.ssa.gov. More at ssa.gov/scam.

FAQ

How much is the 2027 Social Security increase?

3.6%. SSA announced it on October 14, 2026. It is the largest COLA since 2023, and it applies to Social Security and SSI.

How much will my check go up?

Multiply your current gross benefit by 0.036. A $1,000 benefit rises about $36. The average retired worker’s rises about $75. Use our 3.6 percent raise calculator for your own numbers.

What will the average check be in 2027?

SSA estimates the average retired-worker benefit will go from $2,095 to $2,170 in January 2027. See Table 1 for other groups.

Will Medicare Part B take my raise?

Part B comes out of your check before the deposit, so a higher premium reduces your net raise dollar for dollar. The 2027 premium isn’t announced yet. Hold-harmless protects many people from a smaller net check.

What is the hold-harmless rule?

It keeps a Part B premium increase from reducing your net Social Security check below last year’s. It does not guarantee your full raise.

Does hold-harmless apply if I pay IRMAA?

No. IRMAA payers are not protected.

When will I see my 2027 amount online?

In late November, in the Message Center of your my Social Security account. Create an account and enroll in paperless notices by November 18 to see it online. Otherwise, your notice comes by mail in December.

When is my January 2027 payment?

January 13, 20 or 27 for birthdays on the 1st–10th, 11th–20th or 21st–31st. If you are paid on the 3rd, or you get SSI, the payment arrives December 31, 2026. See Table 2.

Why did I get two SSI payments in December 2026?

The first is December’s. The second, on December 31, is January’s, paid early because January 1 is a holiday.

Is the Dec. 31 payment taxed in 2026 or 2027?

For Social Security benefits paid early, federal law treats the December 31, 2026 payment as paid in 2027 for taxing benefits. SSI isn’t taxable.

What is the 2027 earnings limit?

$25,560 if you are under full retirement age all year, and $67,920 in the year you reach it. There is no limit from the month you reach full retirement age.

Does a 401(k) withdrawal count toward the earnings limit?

No. SSA counts only wages and net self-employment earnings. A withdrawal can still affect benefit taxes and IRMAA.

What is the maximum Social Security benefit in 2027?

$4,188 a month for a worker retiring at full retirement age, up from $4,152. Claiming earlier or later changes the amount.

What is the 2027 taxable maximum?

$192,300, up from $184,500. It caps the earnings that pay the 6.2% Social Security payroll tax.

What are the 2027 SSI payment amounts?

$1,029 a month for an individual and $1,544 for a couple. Your own payment is that standard minus your countable income.

Are Social Security benefits taxable in 2027?

They can be, depending on combined income. Single filers start above $25,000 and joint filers above $32,000. SSI is not taxable.

Is SSI taxable?

No. SSI payments are not taxable income, so the December 31 tax-year rule doesn’t apply to them.

Do I need to do anything to get the COLA?

No. SSA applies it automatically. It’s still worth reading your notice.

Why is my raise less than 3.6%?

Most often it is deductions, mainly Medicare Part B. Work through the checklist.

Sources

• SSA, 2027 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Fact Sheet, October 14, 2026
• SSA, Social Security Announces 3.6 Percent Benefit Increase for 2027, October 14, 2026
• SSA, Schedule of Social Security Benefit Payments 2027
• SSA, How a COLA is applied to a benefit
• SSA, How work affects your benefits
• SSA, How the hold-harmless provision protects your benefits
• SSA, Scam awareness
• Medicare.gov, Medicare costs; CMS announcement of 2026 premiums, November 2025
• IRS, Publication 915