More than 76 million Americans will see a 3.6% increase in Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits in 2027 after the Social Security Administration announced the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).
Social Security retirement beneficiaries will receive an average increase of about $75 per month. The adjustment, designed to help benefits keep pace with inflation, takes effect in January for Social Security recipients and Dec. 31, 2026, for SSI recipients.
Here's what beneficiaries need to know about the increase, when it takes effect and who qualifies.
Will Social Security benefits increase in 2027?
Yes. The 3.6% increase affects nearly 72 million Social Security beneficiaries and about 7.3 million SSI recipients.
❗BREAKING❗76 million Americans will receive a 3.6% cost-of-living
adjustment (COLA) in their monthly Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments in 2027. Learn more: https://t.co/ZFjSgZZqm4 pic.twitter.com/xJ7MqRajxT
— Social Security (@SocialSecurity) October 14, 2026
When will the increased payments begin?
Increased Social Security benefit payments will begin in January 2027, according to the SSA. Roughly 76 million Americans will benefit from the adjustment.
How can I view my COLA notice?
People with a my Social Security account can view their COLA notice online beginning in late November 2026, several weeks before paper notices arrive in the mail.
Who qualifies for the 2027 COLA?
SSA says the increase applies to Social Security retirement, survivor and disability benefits, as well as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments.
How is the Social Security COLA calculated?
According to the Social Security Administration, the agency calculates COLA using inflation data from the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, or CPI-W.
The Social Security Administration bases the annual COLA on inflation during July, August and September, meaning higher prices during that period typically lead to a larger benefit increase, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
How many people in Ohio receive Social Security?
According to the SSA website, Ohio beneficiaries received $4.9 billion in total payments each month in 2025. More than 2.6 million Ohioans were beneficiaries of Social Security. That included:
- Retired workers (1,900,292)
- Disabled workers (299,284)
- Widows, widowers, and parents (169,406)
- Spouses (98,465)
- Children (144,130)
In 2027, Ohio's Social Security benefit payments were predicted to rise by as much as $176.4 million per month across all benefciaries with a new cost-of-living adjustment for 2027.
When are upcoming Social Security and SSI payment dates?
Most Social Security payments are sent on Wednesdays based on the recipient's birth date, according to the SSA's payment calendar.
- Birth dates between the 1st and 10th: Second Wednesday of the month
- Birth dates between the 11th and 20th: Third Wednesday of the month
- Birth dates after the 20th: Fourth Wednesday of the month
These are the dates for SSI payments for 2026:
- Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026 (Check for October 2026)
- Friday, Oct. 30, 2026 (Check for November 2026)
- Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2026 (Check for December 2026)
- Friday, Dec. 31, 2026 (Check for January 2027)
Why are there two SSI payments in October?
The schedule shift happens due to a calendar quirk with Nov. 1 falling on a Sunday. Since SSI benefits aren't paid on weekends, the SSA will send November's payment on Oct. 30 instead. The early payment means SSI recipients won't get another check until December 1.
SSI payments typically arrive on the first of each month unless it's a federal holiday or a weekend.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Social Security COLA is 3.6% for 2027. How that impacts Ohio
