What is the 2027 Social Security COLA? How much checks will increase

0The Social Security Administration announced a 3.6% COLA for 2027. Here's how much your monthly benefit check will increase next year.Millions of Americans are getting a larger Social Security raise next year.

The Social Security Administration announced Wednesday that Social Security beneficiaries will receive a 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, in 2027, increasing monthly benefits for more than 75 million retirees, disabled workers and other recipients. The increase is the largest annual COLA in four years.

The annual adjustment is designed to help benefits keep pace with inflation. The 2027 COLA follows a 2.8% increase in 2026 and comes as inflation continued to rise during 2026.

The Social Security Administration announced a 3.6% COLA for 2027. The increase applies to Social Security retirement, survivor and disability benefits, as well as Supplemental Security Income payments.

According to the Social Security Administration, the 3.6% COLA will increase the average retirement benefit by about $75 per month.

The agency said the average monthly retirement benefit is expected to rise from about $2,095 to $2,170.

The Social Security Administration announced a 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment for 2027. A 3.6% COLA would increase monthly benefits by approximately:

For retirees receiving larger monthly benefits, the increase can add up to hundreds of dollars over the course of a year.

Most Social Security recipients will begin receiving the higher payments in January 2027. Supplemental Security Income recipients will begin receiving higher payments starting Dec. 31, 2026, according to the Social Security Administration.

The annual COLA is based on inflation data collected by the federal government. The Social Security Administration uses the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, known as CPI-W, to calculate the yearly adjustment. The 2027 increase reflects higher inflation during 2026.

Maria Francis is a Pennsylvania-based journalist covering trending and breaking topics across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions for USA Today Network. Reach her at mfrancis@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: What is the 2027 Social Security COLA? How much checks will increase