The Social Security Administration (SSA) on October 13 announced a 3.6% Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) increase starting in January 2027. The COLA will increase the average Social Security payment by roughly $75 to $2,170 a month. The COLA that started in January 2026 was 2.8%.
The annual COLA is based on the average percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from July, August and September of the current year compared to the prior year. The NRLN advocates that the COLA calculation be changed to Consumer Price Index for Elderly (CPI-E) based on older Americans’ spending patterns, including high medical costs. Usually, the CPI-E would provide seniors with a slightly larger COLA.
Individuals with personal my Social Security accounts can view their COLA notice online starting in late November – up to three weeks earlier than receiving a paper notice in the mail. Account holders can also choose to receive text or email alerts when a new message, including their COLA notice, is available in their personal account’s Message Center.
Individuals who do not have a personal account will need to create one and enroll in paperless notices by November 18 to see their COLA notice online. Create an account today at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.
Individuals who have not enrolled in paperless notices in my Social Security will receive their COLA notice by mail in December.
Social Security beneficiaries will receive a simplified, one-page COLA notice that will provide exact dates and dollar amounts of an individual’s new benefit amount and any deductions.
Information about Medicare changes for 2027 will be available at www.medicare.gov. For Medicare enrollees, the 2027 Medicare Part B premium amount will be available via my Social Security Message Center starting in late November. The 2026 Medicare Trustees Report predicted the standard monthly premium for 2027 at $209.50, up $6.60, or about 3.25%, from $202.90 this year.
For additional information, visit www.ssa.gov/cola.
Bill Kadereit, President
National Retiree Legislative Network
