Social Security's 3. 6% raise may finally match inflation

The monthly Social Security check will grow by its largest amount in four years, and for once, the increase could match your spending. The Social Security Administration (SSA) confirmed a 3. 6% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2027, adding roughly $75 to the average monthly retirement benefit. Nearly 72 million beneficiaries and about 7. 3 million Supplemental Security Income recipients will receive larger payments starting in late 2026 and early 2027. The increase follows a 2. 8% COLA in 2026 that rising Medicare Part B premiums partially offset before retirees could put it toward daily expenses.