Your Social Security check

Your 2027 Social Security Raise: What to Watch Before January

• As of October 9, 2026
• By Ask Margaret, reviewed by a person
• Margaret is an AI presenter

If you get Social Security, Wednesday, October 14 matters. That is when your 2027 raise is scheduled to be announced. This guide covers what to watch for, what it could mean for your check, how the Medicare Part B premium can eat into it, and one scam to ignore this week. It follows the video of the same name. Until the announcement, every number below is an estimate, not an official figure.

When the raise gets announced

The government releases September inflation numbers at 8:30 in the morning Eastern on October 14. Social Security uses them to set the raise, called the COLA, which stands for cost-of-living adjustment. Last year's raise was 2.8%, and it began with the January 2026 payments. Until Wednesday, every number you hear is only an estimate.

What the forecasters expect

Three groups have made forecasts.

So the estimates sit between 3.2% and 3.6%. Nothing is official yet, and the real number could land a little higher or lower.

What that could mean in dollars

Take an example check of about $1,937 a month. This is an example, not the average benefit. Have your own amount handy.

• At 3.2%, that check grows by about $62. That brings it to about $1,999.
• At 3.6%, it grows by about $70. That brings it to about $2,007.

The math is simple: $1,937 times 3.2% is about $62, and $1,937 times 3.6% is about $70. These are estimates, not your real numbers. Your own raise depends on your own benefit.

How Part B can take a bite

If you have Medicare, part of that raise may go to Part B. The 2026 standard premium is $202.90 a month. Medicare's trustees project $209.50 for 2027. That would be about $6.60 more ($209.50 minus $202.90). The projection comes from a report on the trustees' findings, and the final number usually comes in November. Check your notice for both numbers.

What to watch for, starting Wednesday

1. The final percentage, announced October 14.
2. Your own notice, with your exact new amount.

Last year, Social Security began mailing notices in early December, and people with a my Social Security account could read theirs online. This year's dates are not announced yet.

How to read an estimate

An estimate is a forecast, not a promise. The three groups above arrived at different numbers, and that is the point: nobody knows the final percentage until the September inflation numbers are out. When the announcement comes, compare the real figure with the range you saw here, and use your own benefit amount, not an example, to see what it means for you. Your raise is a percentage of your own check, so a smaller or larger check gives a smaller or larger dollar change.

A short checklist before your January check

• On Wednesday, look up the final raise percentage.
• Write down your current monthly benefit so you can work out your own increase.
• If you have a my Social Security account, sign in at ssa.gov/myaccount later in the year to read your notice online.
• Watch for your Part B premium for 2027 when it is announced, and compare it with the $202.90 you pay now.
• Remember that the raise and the Part B change arrive together, so the number that matters for your budget is the difference between the two.

The scam to ignore

Your raise is automatic. You do not have to do anything to get it. Social Security never charges a fee for it. Anyone asking for a fee is a scammer. So on Wednesday, check the final number, then watch for your notice, and never pay anyone for a raise you already get.

Quick answers

Do I need to apply for the raise? No. The raise is automatic, and Social Security's own watchdog says no action is needed.

Is 3.6% the final number? No. 3.2%, 3.5% and 3.6% are estimates from three different groups. The real percentage is set by the September inflation numbers released on October 14.

Will I get exactly $2,007? Probably not. That figure is only what an example check of about $1,937 would become at 3.6%. Your own raise depends on your own benefit.

Will Medicare take part of it? If you have Medicare, part of the raise may go to Part B. The projected change is about $6.60 a month, but the final premium usually comes in November.

Who should I trust for my exact numbers? Your own notice from Social Security, and ssa.gov. For free help with Medicare questions, call 1-800-MEDICARE.

What we could not confirm

The $1,937 example check could not be confirmed as an official Social Security average monthly check, so we present it only as an example. The $209.50 Part B figure is a projection reported from the trustees' findings, not a final premium. This page will be updated once the official numbers are out.

Sources

General education only, not financial, tax, legal or medical advice. Your situation may differ. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare, CMS or any government agency; we do not sell insurance. Free help: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (shiphelp.org). Not affiliated with the Social Security Administration. Check your own record at ssa.gov/myaccount. Talk with a licensed financial professional before making financial decisions.

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