Social Security benefits to rise 3.6% in 2027
Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits will rise 3.6% in 2027, the Social Security Administration announced Wednesday. The increase is the largest cost-of-living adjustment since 2023 and is expected to add about $75 to the average retiree’s monthly benefit.
Nearly 72 million Social Security recipients will receive the higher payments beginning in January 2027. About 7.3 million SSI recipients will see their increase starting Dec. 31, 2026.
The adjustment is based on inflation measured by the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers during the third quarter. Consumer prices rose 3.7% in September from a year earlier, while the index used to calculate the adjustment averaged an increase of about 3.6% from July through September. The 2026 adjustment was 2.8%.
The maximum amount of earnings subject to Social Security payroll taxes will also increase …