Special Report: Your 2027 Social Security Check — The 3.6% Raise, the Medicare Unknown and the Nov. 18 Deadline
Social Security benefits rise 3.6% in January, about $75 a month for the average retiree. But the 2027 Medicare Part B premium — which comes straight out of most checks — still hasn't been announced. Here is everything that changes, what to watch, and one deadline to act on this month.
By Clara Hughes
For nearly 72 million Americans, January will bring a raise. The Social Security Administration has announced a 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2027. On average, retirement benefits will rise by about $75 a month, SSA said. Increased payments to about 7.3 million people receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) begin on Dec. 31, 2026. "Social Security will implement this cost-of-living adjustment for 76 million Americans, giving them greater financial stability," said Commissioner Frank J. Bisignano. But the number that will decide how much of that raise you actually keep has not been released yet. Keep reading with Altas Premium. Below: the full 2027 numbers table, the Medicare Part B question hanging over every check, how the "hold harmless" rule protects you, the new earnings limits for working retirees, the Nov.