Social Security benefits go up 3.6% in 2027. The Social Security Administration announced the cost-of-living adjustment on October 14, 2026, and it applies to retirement, survivor and disability (SSDI) benefits alike. Type in what you get now and the calculator shows your new amount, the monthly and yearly increase, and what’s likely to land in your bank account once Medicare is taken out.
What 3.6% looks like on common checks
| 2026 benefit | 2027 benefit | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $1,036 | +$36 | +$432 |
| $1,500 | $1,554 | +$54 | +$648 |
| $2,000 | $2,072 | +$72 | +$864 |
| $2,500 | $2,590 | +$90 | +$1,080 |
| $3,000 | $3,108 | +$108 | +$1,296 |
Why your deposit may rise less
The 3.6% is figured on the full benefit, but most people on Medicare have the Part B premium taken out first. It was $202.90 a month in 2026. If it rose to the $209.50 the Medicare Trustees projected, someone with a $1,500 benefit would see a deposit of $1,344.50, up $47.40 rather than $54. CMS usually announces the new premium in November, so the second-to-last line in the calculator is a best guess until then.
A hold harmless rule stops the premium increase from cutting most people’s net check below the year before. It doesn’t cover people who are new to Medicare or who pay income-related premiums. If you put in your deposit rather than your full benefit, the calculator assumes the standard $202.90 is the only thing coming out.
Questions people type in
How much is the Social Security increase for 2027?
3.6%, up from 2.8% in 2026. It’s based on the change in the CPI-W from the third quarter of 2025 to the third quarter of 2026. The average retired worker’s check goes from about $2,095 to about $2,170.
When does the 2027 raise show up?
In the payment you receive in January 2027, which is the benefit for December 2026. People who get SSI see it on December 31, 2026, because January 1 is a holiday. Your exact new amount appears in the COLA notice, posted to my Social Security accounts and mailed in December.
Does the COLA apply to Social Security disability?
Yes. SSDI gets the same 3.6%, so the calculator works the same way for a disability benefit. SSI is a separate program with its own fixed maximum, $1,029 for one person in 2027, and other income is subtracted from it, so it needs a different calculation. The SSI calculator does that one.
Will my Social Security go up if I keep working?
It can, separately from the COLA. SSA rechecks your record each year, and a new year of earnings that’s higher than one of your top 35 years raises your benefit. Working before full retirement age can also mean money withheld under the earnings test, which allows $25,560 in 2027 before $1 is held back for every $2 over.
More on the announcement, payment dates and the 2027 earnings limits is in Social Security COLA for 2027 is 3.6%, and on claiming age in Social Security at 62 vs 67. SSA’s own summary is on its COLA page.
An estimate. The COLA notice SSA sends in December shows your actual 2027 amount.