Social Security benefits projected to rise 3.5% in 2027

Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits are projected to increase by 3.5% in 2027. This estimate comes from the Senior Citizens League, a nonpartisan advocacy group, based on government data collected through August.

The projected increase is driven by the annual automatic cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), which is calculated using the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers to account for inflation. This forecasted 3.5% boost would be higher than the 2.8% COLA seen in 2026.

The Social Security Administration is scheduled to officially announce the 2027 COLA on October 14. Recipients will receive personalized benefit notices in December, detailing the specific amounts they will receive starting in January 2027. For the average individual recipient, a 3.5% increase could result in a monthly boost of approximately $72.49.