US Social Security benefits to rise 3.6% in 2027
In short
The Social Security Administration announced a 3.6% cost-of-living increase for 2027, adding about $75 to the average monthly retirement benefit. Higher Social Security payments begin in January, while increased Supplemental Security Income payments begin December 31, 2026.
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The Social Security Administration announced a 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment for 2027, with higher monthly Social Security benefits beginning in January. CNN reported that retired workers' payments would rise by about $75 to an estimated average of $2,170. The increase is above the 2.8% adjustment for 2026. People receiving Supplemental Security Income will see their increased payments begin on December 31, 2026, according to CBS and the Guardian. [ 3 , 9 , 10 , 20 ]
The annual adjustment is calculated using inflation data for July, August and September, with September's release providing the final input, ABC and Axios reported. The Consumer Price Index rose 3.7% in September from a year earlier, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics figures cited by CNN and CBS. ABC said the agency would also raise the maximum annual earnings subject to Social Security tax from $184,500 to $192,300. [ 3 , 9 , 10 , 14 ]
Advocates cautioned that larger checks would not necessarily restore purchasing power lost to earlier price increases. Shannon Benton, executive director of the Senior Citizens League, told CBS that the adjustment was designed to keep pace with inflation rather than compensate for years of falling behind. NBC reported her view that the increase would offer some breathing room without reversing the damage of rising expenses during the decade. [ 6 , 9 ]
Reports describe beneficiary totals differently. CNN put Social Security recipients at nearly 72 million and SSI recipients at about 7.3 million, noting that some receive both. ABC quoted commissioner Frank Bisignano saying the adjustment would be implemented for 76 million Americans. ABC also reported that recipients could check online accounts for new benefit notifications from late November, with mailed notices beginning in early December. [ 3 , 10 ]
Why it matters
The adjustment is designed to help benefits keep pace with inflation, following a 2.8% increase for 2026. Advocates for older Americans said the larger checks would provide some relief but would not recover purchasing power lost in earlier years.
Key facts
- The 2027 cost-of-living adjustment is 3.6%, compared with 2.8% for 2026. [ 3 , 9 , 10 , 16 ]
- The average retired-worker benefit is expected to rise by about $75 to $2,170 a month beginning in January. [ 3 ]
- SSI recipients will receive the increase starting December 31, 2026. [ 9 , 20 ]
- The maximum earnings subject to Social Security tax will rise from $184,500 to $192,300. [ 10 , 14 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The number of people covered is described differently across reports. CNN distinguishes nearly 72 million Social Security recipients from about 7.3 million SSI recipients and notes overlap; ABC quotes the commissioner giving a combined figure of 76 million.