Written by Howard Yeh
Co-Founder & Chief Revenue Officer at HealthCare.com
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Key Takeaways
- Social Security benefits will rise 3.6% in 2027, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced on October 14, 2026.
- The average retired worker’s check goes up about $75 a month, from $2,095 to $2,170, per SSA.
- Medicare’s Trustees project the standard Part B premium will rise $6.60, from $202.90 to $209.50 a month. CMS sets the final number later this fall.
- Most people on Medicare have the Part B premium taken out of their Social Security check, so part of the raise goes to Medicare.
- Medicare open enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, 2026. It is a good time to check whether a cheaper plan fits your new budget.
The 2027 Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is 3.6%. SSA announced it on October 14, 2026. The increase starts with January 2027 Social Security payments, and SSI payments go up starting December 31, 2026. For most people on Medicare, though, the raise you see in your bank account will be smaller than the headline number, because the Part B premium is deducted from your check and that premium is going up too.
Here is what the 2027 COLA means for your check, how much Medicare is likely to take back, and what to do with the difference during open enrollment.
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2027 Social Security COLA at a Glance
| Item | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| COLA | 2.8% | 3.6% |
| Average retired worker benefit (per SSA) | $2,095 (before the 2027 COLA) | $2,170 |
| SSI federal payment, individual | $994 | $1,029 |
| Standard Part B premium | $202.90 | $209.50 (projected) |
| Part B deductible | $283 | $292 (projected) |
Sources: SSA 2027 COLA fact sheet; CMS 2026 Medicare Parts A & B fact sheet; 2026 Medicare Trustees Report projections, as reported by AARP and MOAA. CMS usually announces the final 2027 Part B figures in November.
How Much Will Your Social Security Check Go Up?
The COLA is a percentage of your current benefit, so the dollar increase depends on how much you get now. To estimate yours, multiply your monthly benefit before deductions by 3.6%. On a $2,000 benefit, that is $72 more a month.
Your new amount shows up in January 2027. If you get Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the increase starts with the payment SSA sends on December 31, 2026. Most people are paid on the second, third or fourth Wednesday of the month, based on their birth date. For January 2027, those dates are January 13, 20 and 27, according to SSA’s 2027 payment schedule.
SSA posts COLA notices in my Social Security accounts starting in late November and mails paper notices in December. To see yours online, you need an account set up for paperless notices by November 18. The notice shows your new benefit and the Medicare premiums that will be deducted in 2027.
How Much of Your Raise Will Medicare Take Back?
If you get Social Security and have Medicare Part B, your Part B premium is usually deducted from your check automatically. When the premium rises, part of your COLA goes to cover it.
The 2026 Medicare Trustees Report projects the 2027 standard Part B premium at $209.50 a month, up $6.60 from $202.90 in 2026. That is a projection, not the final number. CMS typically announces the official premium and deductible in mid-November.
Here is what the 2027 COLA looks like after the projected premium increase:
| Monthly benefit now | 3.6% COLA raise | Projected Part B increase | Estimated net raise |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,500 | $54.00 | $6.60 | $47.40 |
| $2,095 (current average) | $75.42 | $6.60 | $68.82 |
| $3,000 | $108.00 | $6.60 | $101.40 |
Estimates for people who pay the standard Part B premium. Your actual amount will depend on the final 2027 premium, IRMAA and any Medicare Advantage or Part D premiums you have deducted.
For a full breakdown of what Medicare will cost next year, see our guide to 2027 Medicare plan costs.
The Hold Harmless Rule: Can Your Check Go Down?
A part of the Social Security Act known as the hold harmless provision protects most people from seeing their net Social Security check shrink because of a Part B premium increase. If the premium increase is larger than your COLA in dollars, your premium increase is limited to the size of your raise.
With a 3.6% COLA and a projected premium increase of $6.60, the raise should be larger than the premium increase for most people, so the rule is unlikely to come into play this year.
Not everyone is covered by hold harmless. It does not apply if you pay IRMAA, if you are new to Medicare, if your Part B premium is not deducted from your Social Security check, or if your state pays your Part B premium. AARP estimates roughly 30% of Part B enrollees do not qualify for the protection.
IRMAA in 2027: Higher Earners Pay More
If your income is above a set level, you pay an income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA) on top of the standard Part B premium. Medicare uses the modified adjusted gross income on your tax return from two years earlier, so 2027 IRMAA is based on your 2025 return.
In 2026, IRMAA starts at modified adjusted gross income above $109,000 for an individual, and total Part B premiums range from $284.10 to $689.90 a month, per CMS. The 2027 brackets will be announced with the 2027 premium.
Because IRMAA looks back two years, any income change in 2027 would not show up in your IRMAA until 2029.
Open enrollment runs October 15 to December 7. See plans and premiums in your area.
How Is the Social Security COLA Calculated?
The COLA is based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). SSA compares the average CPI-W for July, August and September of this year with the same three months last year. The percentage increase becomes the COLA. That is why the 2027 COLA was announced on the same day as September’s inflation data.
2027 COLA Compared With Recent Years
| Year benefits increased | COLA |
|---|---|
| 2027 | 3.6% |
| 2026 | 2.8% |
| 2025 | 2.5% |
| 2024 | 3.2% |
| 2023 | 8.7% |
| 2022 | 5.9% |
Source: SSA cost-of-living adjustment history.
Use Your Raise Wisely During Medicare Open Enrollment
Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 to December 7, 2026, for coverage that starts January 1, 2027. Your COLA notice and your plan’s Annual Notice of Change arrive around the same time, so it is a good moment to look at the full picture.
Check whether your Medicare Advantage or Part D premium, deductible or drug costs are changing in 2027. A plan with a lower premium or better drug coverage can easily save more than your COLA adds. Our guide on how to change Medicare plans during AEP walks through the steps, and you can compare plans with our 2027 Medicare Advantage comparison guide.
If your income is limited, you may qualify for help. Medicare Savings Programs can pay your Part B premium, and Extra Help lowers Part D drug costs. You can learn more and apply through Medicare.gov or your state Medicaid office.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Social Security COLA for 2027?
The 2027 Social Security COLA is 3.6%. SSA announced it on October 14, 2026. It applies to Social Security payments starting in January 2027 and SSI payments starting December 31, 2026.
When will I see the 2027 COLA in my check?
Your January 2027 payment will include the increase. Most people are paid on January 13, 20 or 27, depending on their birth date. SSA posts COLA notices online starting in late November and mails paper notices in December.
How much is the Medicare Part B premium in 2027?
CMS has not announced it yet. The Medicare Trustees project $209.50 a month, up from $202.90 in 2026. CMS usually releases the official figure in November.
Can my Social Security check go down in 2027?
For most people, no. The hold harmless rule stops a Part B premium increase from lowering your net check below the prior year. It does not apply if you pay IRMAA, are new to Medicare, do not have your premium deducted from Social Security or have your premium paid by your state.
Does the COLA affect my Medicare Advantage plan?
No. The COLA does not change your plan’s benefits. But if your plan premium is deducted from your Social Security check, any premium change for 2027 will show up in your payment. Review your Annual Notice of Change before December 7.
A licensed Medicare agent can compare 2027 plans and premiums in your area before the December 7 deadline.
Sources
- SSA, Social Security Announces 3.6 Percent Benefit Increase for 2027 (October 14, 2026)
- SSA, 2027 Social Security Changes fact sheet
- SSA, Cost-of-Living Adjustments history
- SSA, Schedule of Social Security Benefit Payments 2027
- CMS, 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles
- AARP, Medicare Part B premium projection for 2027
- SSA, 2026 Social Security Changes fact sheet
- MOAA, Medicare Trustees Report estimates future Part B premiums
We aim to help you make informed healthcare decisions. While this post may contain links to lead generation forms, this won’t influence our writing. We follow strict editorial standards to give you the most accurate and unbiased information.
