The cost-of-living increase for 2027 is 3.6 percent. The Social Security Administration set out the figure, and the other amounts that move with it, in a notice in the Federal Register dated October 26, 2026.
When the larger payments arrive
The notice says Social Security benefits "will increase by 3.6 percent for individuals eligible for December 2026 benefits, payable in January 2027 and thereafter." Federal Supplemental Security Income rates rise by the same 3.6 percent for January 2027, and the notice says that payment is made on December 31, 2026.
Other amounts that change in 2027
| Item | 2027 amount |
|---|---|
| Maximum federal SSI payment, individual | $1,029 a month |
| Maximum federal SSI payment, individual with an eligible spouse | $1,544 a month |
| Earnings subject to the Social Security payroll tax | $192,300 |
| Earnings needed for one quarter of coverage | $1,970 |
| Monthly earnings test exempt amount, before the year of normal retirement age | $2,130 |
| Monthly earnings test exempt amount, in the year of normal retirement age | $5,660 |
How the 3.6 percent is calculated
The law ties the increase to one price index, the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, which the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes. The administration compares the average of that index in the third quarter of the current year with the average in the last third quarter that produced an increase. For 2027, that comparison runs from the third quarter of 2025 to the third quarter of 2026, and the notice puts the rise at 3.6 percent after rounding to the nearest tenth.
Because the comparison stops in September, later price reports do not change the 2027 figure. The October report put the same index at 331.147.
This page reports the published figures and is not personal financial advice. An individual benefit amount depends on that person's own earnings record.