The raise is 3.6%. Your deposit is a different number.
On October 14, 2026, the Social Security Administration announced a 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment for 2027 — the largest since 2023 — for nearly 72 million Social Security beneficiaries, with about 7.3 million SSI recipients on top. The average retired worker’s benefit rises from $2,095 to $2,170 a month. But almost nobody’s bank deposit rises by the full $75, because for most retirees the Medicare Part B premium is taken straight out of the check, and Part B is rising too: from $202.90 a month in 2026 to a projected $209.50 in 2027. The honest question is never “how big is the raise?” but “how much of the raise do I keep?” — for the average retiree, about $68.40 of the $75, if the projection holds. Find your own row in the table below, or enter your exact benefit in the calculator.
Your 2027 check at every benefit level
| Your gross check now | January 2027 (gross) | Gross raise | After Part B (projected) | Net gain per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $800 | $828 | +$28 | $618.50 | +$21.40 |
| $1,000 | $1,036 | +$36 | $826.50 | +$29.40 |
| $1,200 | $1,243 | +$43 | $1,033.50 | +$36.40 |
| $1,500 | $1,554 | +$54 | $1,344.50 | +$47.40 |
| $1,800 | $1,864 | +$64 | $1,654.50 | +$57.40 |
| $2,000 | $2,072 | +$72 | $1,862.50 | +$65.40 |
| $2,095 (average retired worker) | $2,170 | +$75 | $1,960.50 | +$68.40 |
| $2,500 | $2,590 | +$90 | $2,380.50 | +$83.40 |
| $3,000 | $3,108 | +$108 | $2,898.50 | +$101.40 |
| $3,500 | $3,626 | +$126 | $3,416.50 | +$119.40 |
| $4,000 | $4,144 | +$144 | $3,934.50 | +$137.40 |
Gross figures are rounded down to the whole dollar, the way SSA pays. “After Part B” uses the official 2026 premium of $202.90 and the Trustees’ projected 2027 premium of $209.50; if you pay an IRMAA surcharge or a different amount, use the calculator above with your own numbers.
Why Part B takes a bite — and when it legally cannot
The Part B premium rise projected for 2027 is $6.60 a month. That sounds small until you put it against a small check: on an $800 benefit the COLA raise is $28, so Part B would take almost a quarter of it. One protection matters here. The hold-harmless rule says that if your Part B premium is deducted from your Social Security check and you were in that position through late 2026, your net check cannot go down because the standard Part B premium rose — your premium increase is capped at your COLA dollar increase. It does not protect people who are new to Medicare in 2027, who pay IRMAA surcharges, or who pay premiums by another route, and it never covers other deductions such as Part D plan premiums. The calculator applies the rule automatically when you tick the box.
When the first bigger check arrives
| Your situation | First payment with the 2027 COLA |
|---|---|
| Birthday on the 1st–10th | Wednesday, January 13, 2027 |
| Birthday on the 11th–20th | Wednesday, January 20, 2027 |
| Birthday on the 21st–31st | Wednesday, January 27, 2027 |
| Benefits started before May 1997 | December 31, 2026 (the January 3 payment moves up: January 1 is a holiday and January 3 is a Sunday) |
| SSI | December 31, 2026 (January 1 is a federal holiday) |
Your exact personal amount appears in your my Social Security account in late November 2026 — enroll in paperless notices by November 18 to see it there first. Paper COLA notices are mailed through December. If the official number differs from your calculation here by a dollar or two, that is normal: SSA applies the COLA to your primary insurance amount and rounds down, while this calculator applies it to the benefit you enter.
What else changes in 2027
From the SSA 2027 fact sheet: the maximum taxable earnings rise from $184,500 to $192,300; the maximum benefit for a worker retiring at full retirement age rises to $4,188 a month; the earnings-test limit for workers under full retirement age rises to $25,560 a year. SSI resource limits stay at $2,000 (individual) and $3,000 (couple). Medicare’s own open enrollment for changing plans runs separately, October 15 to December 7, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Social Security COLA for 2027?
3.6%, announced by the Social Security Administration on October 14, 2026. It is the largest cost-of-living adjustment since the 8.7% COLA of 2023, and it applies to retirement, disability and survivor benefits as well as SSI. The average retired worker's benefit rises from $2,095 to $2,170 a month before Medicare deductions — about $75 more.
How do I calculate my 2027 Social Security check?
Multiply your current monthly benefit by 1.036 and round down to a whole dollar — that is your new gross benefit. Then subtract your Medicare Part B premium if it comes out of your check: $202.90 a month in 2026, and a projected $209.50 in 2027 (the official 2027 figure is announced by CMS in November). The calculator above does both steps and shows your net gain.
How much will Medicare Part B take from my raise in 2027?
The standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month in 2026. The 2026 Medicare Trustees Report projects $209.50 for 2027 — a rise of $6.60. On an average $75 COLA raise, that would leave about $68.40 a month. The official premium is set by CMS in November 2026; this page will be updated the day it is announced. Higher-income beneficiaries pay IRMAA surcharges on top of the standard premium.
When will I get my first increased Social Security check?
It depends on your birthday. Birthdays on the 1st–10th are paid on Wednesday January 13, 2027; the 11th–20th on January 20; the 21st–31st on January 27. People who started benefits before May 1997, and SSI recipients, receive the increased payment on December 31, 2026, because January 1 is a federal holiday.
What is the hold-harmless rule?
If your Part B premium is deducted from your Social Security check, and you were enrolled in Part B and receiving benefits in late 2026, federal law says your net check cannot go down just because the Part B premium rose. In practice your premium increase is capped at the dollar size of your COLA raise. It does not apply if you are new to Medicare in 2027, pay IRMAA, or pay your premium another way — and other deductions, like a Part D plan premium, are not protected.
How much is SSI in 2027?
The federal SSI payment standard rises with the same 3.6% COLA: from $994 to $1,029 a month for an individual, and from $1,491 to $1,544 for a couple. Many recipients get less than the standard (other income counts against it), and some states add a supplement on top. The first increased SSI payment arrives on December 31, 2026.
When will Social Security tell me my exact 2027 amount?
Your personal COLA notice appears in your my Social Security account in late November 2026 (go paperless by November 18 to see it there first); paper notices are mailed in December. The official notice is the final word — this calculator is an estimate and can differ by a dollar or so because SSA applies the COLA to your primary insurance amount, then rounds.
Read next: How Much Will My Social Security Check Be in 2027? (After Medicare, With Dates)
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