Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits will go up 3.6% in January 2027, according to the Oct. 14 announcement from the Social Security Administration.
That means the 5.3 million Floridians who receive Social Security benefits can expect to see about $75 more per month for the average benefit.
“Social Security will implement this cost-of-living adjustment for 76 million Americans, giving them greater financial stability,” said Commissioner Frank J. Bisignano. “Under President Donald J. Trump, Social Security is delivering better, faster, higher-quality service for the American people."
The annual Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is based on September inflation numbers from the Consumer Price Index. Over the year,
prices for all items were up 3.7%, according to the Labor Department, driven by a 9.1% rise in gas prices.
Here's what to know.
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What is a Social Security COLA?
When inflation on necessities rises, the SSA adjusts monthly benefits to help recipients on fixed incomes stay ahead, much like a yearly "raise."
Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits can increase each year through a cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, set by the SSA in October. The agency calculates the adjustment using the annual Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), a measure that tracks spending habits and the latest prices for necessities including food and gas.
How much will the 2027 Social Security COLA be?
Benefits are increasing 3.6%, the SSA announced. That works out to be about $75 more per month for Social Security benefits, based on the average monthly benefit of $2,088 as of August 2026.
If you receive more or less than the average, your increase would change accordingly. Just calculate 3.6% of your current benefits to see how much more you will receive.
This is the largest increase since 2022, when the COLA was 8.7%, SSA data shows. That was when inflation during the COVID pandemic reached the highest level in 40 years. The COLA has averaged about a 3.1% increase over the last decade.
When will the Social Security COLA take effect?
Social Security changes will begin with the January 2027 payments.
Increased payments for people receiving SSI will begin on December 31, 2026.
When will I know how much my 2026 Social Security benefits will be?
The SSA will begin notifying people about their new benefit amount by mail, with exact dates and dollar amounts of new benefit amounts and any deductions, starting in early December 2026.
If you have a personal my Social Security account, you can view the notice online as soon as it's ready.
Will the Social Security COLA be enough to keep up?
The extra money in your check still might not stretch enough.
- The COLA is barely ahead of inflation. A 3.6% raise would be barely more than the latest rate of inflation, which was 3.4% for the 12 months ending in August 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- The base Medicare Part B premium, which is deducted from Social Security benefits, is expected to increase from $202.90 this year to $209.50 in 2027, a 3.3% increase, according to an estimate in the 2026 Medicare Trustees report.
- Medicare Part D premiums, which are sold through private insurance companies, are expected to rise to $41.33 per month in 2027. The standard Part D deductible will increase to $700 in 2027, up from $615 in 2026, although out-of-pocket prescription caps will rise to $2,400, up from $2,100 this year, which may help.
The COLA is also based on rises in the Consumer Price Index's CPI-W, which doesn't include prices for shelter and medical care services, and those prices — which disproportionately affect the people most likely to receive Social Security — have been going up fast.
How many Floridians receive Social Security?
About 75.9 million Americans receive either Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or both, as of August 2026, according to SSA data.
As of December 2025, 5,294,001 people in Florida received Social Security benefits, according to a Congressional report. It broke down to:
- Retired workers: 4,191,491
- Disabled workers: 462,756
- Widow(er)s and parents: 260,003
- Spouses: 145,263
- Children: 234,488
C. A. Bridges is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida's service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Social Security 2027 COLA is going up. How much more you'll get
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