Social Security announced a 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2027 on October 14, 2026. The average disabled worker’s SSDI check rises from $1,642 to about $1,701 a month, roughly $59 more. The SSI federal payment goes from $994 to $1,029 for an individual and from $1,491 to $1,544 for a couple. SSI recipients see the new amount on December 31, 2026; SSDI recipients see it in their January 2027 payment. Nothing needs to be filed. The increase is automatic.
- Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA):
- The automatic yearly increase Social Security applies to SSDI, retirement, survivor and SSI payments so benefits keep pace with inflation.
- CPI-W:
- The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, the inflation measure the law uses to set the COLA. The 2027 COLA compares July through September 2026 prices with the same months in 2025.
- SSI Federal Benefit Rate:
- The maximum monthly SSI payment before any income is subtracted. $994 for an individual in 2026, $1,029 in 2027.
- Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA):
- The monthly earnings level above which Social Security generally considers you able to work. $1,690 in 2026, $1,770 in 2027 for non-blind recipients.
What 3.6% Means for the Increase in Your SSDI Benefit Payments
The average individual receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for their long-term disability receives approximately $1,642 per month in 2026, which means their payment for 2027 will be roughly $1,701 per month. This equates to an approximate $59.00 increase for 2027. For Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the average payment amounted to about $736 per month as of September 2026, and with the COLA adjustment of 3.6%, the maximum federal payment will increase from $994 to $1,029 for an individual and from $1,491 to $1,544 for a couple.
To assist with a rough estimation of your figures, we have included a chart and a calculator below:
| Benefit | 2026 | 2027 (after 3.6% COLA) | Monthly increase |
| Average SSDI payment (disabled worker) | $1,642 | $1,701 | $59 |
| Average SSDI, disabled worker with spouse and children | $2,970 | $3,077 | $107 |
| Maximum federal SSI payment, individual | $994 | $1,029 | $35 |
| Maximum federal SSI payment, couple | $1,491 | $1,544 | $53 |
This is a rough estimate only. Your exact 2027 amount is in the COLA notice Social Security sends you, and deductions such as the Medicare Part B premium change what you actually receive.
You can find the exact figure you will be paid by examining the following:
- The Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) notice you receive in the mail
- Online in your my Social Security portal, starting in late November
- You will also receive a notice in the mail in December, unless you have opted into paperless notices
When The COLA Increase Will Be Reflected in Your Disability Benefit Payments
For individuals receiving SSDI or SSI:
- For SSI, the first benefit payment with the COLA adjustment reflected in its amount arrives December 31, 2026. This is because January 1st is a federal holiday and SSDI and SSI are released on set schedules. Please note that this December 31st SSI payment is the January payment, received slightly early. It is not a bonus.
- For SSDI, the first disability benefit payment that reflects the new COLA rate is the January 2027 payment. It will be sent on your usual Wednesday, which is set by your birthday window.
- The SSA has already published the 2027 payment calendar. January SSDI dates are Wednesday, January 13, 20 or 27, depending on your birthday. People who get both SSI and SSDI, or who started benefits before May 1997, are paid December 31, 2026 as well, because January 3 falls on a Sunday.
Other 2027 Figures That Will Change With The COLA Increase
The COLA also moves several other Social Security figures each January. Here are the 2027 numbers next to 2026:
| Figure | 2026 | 2027 |
| Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA), non-blind | $1,690 per month | $1,770 per month |
| Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA), blind | $2,830 per month | $2,950 per month |
| Trial Work Period month trigger | $1,210 per month | $1,270 per month |
| Earnings for one work credit | $1,890 | $1,970 |
| Taxable maximum (Social Security tax) | $184,500 | $192,300 |
| SSI resource limit, individual / couple | $2,000 / $3,000 | $2,000 / $3,000 (unchanged since 1989) |
Will Medicare Take Some of Your Benefit Payment Back?
Most individuals receiving SSDI receive Medicare Part B after 24 months of benefits. The standard premium, which is $202.90 in 2026, comes out of the check (it is deducted) before it is received. However, the 2027 Part B premium has not been announced yet. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) usually announces the new premium in late October or November.
For 2027, the Medicare trustees report projects about $209.50, which is a $6.60 increase to the premium, roughly a 3.3% increase.
While there is a projected $6 to $7 increase in Medicare premium costs, that still leaves approximately $52 of the $59 average COLA increase. The final number will be reflected in your December 2026 notice.
Do You Need To Do Anything To Receive The 2027 Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA)?
You don’t have to do anything at all. The COLA is applied automatically. It is immensely important to note that no one from the Social Security Administration will call, text, or email asking for information to “process” the increase. Anything saying otherwise is indicative of a scam.
For Individuals Receiving Payments and Working Part Time
If you work part-time while receiving SSDI, please familiarize yourself with the new Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) limits:
| SGA limit | 2026 | 2027 |
| Non-blind | $1,690 per month | $1,770 per month |
| Blind | $2,830 per month | $2,950 per month |
| Trial Work Period month | $1,210 per month | $1,270 per month |
If You Don’t Receive a Disability Benefit Payment That Reflects the Change
If your December 31, 2026 or January 2027 benefit payment does not reflect the COLA increase, check your notice first. If that does not provide the answers you need, contact the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 or make an inquiry through my Social Security.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Social Security COLA for 2027?
3.6%. Social Security announced the 2027 cost-of-living adjustment on October 14, 2026. It is based on the CPI-W, comparing July through September 2026 prices with the same months in 2025.
When will the 2027 COLA show up in my payment?
SSI recipients see the new amount on December 31, 2026, because January 1 is a federal holiday; that payment is the January payment arriving early, not a bonus. SSDI recipients see it in the January 2027 payment on their usual Wednesday, January 13, 20 or 27, depending on their birthday.
What is the maximum SSI payment in 2027?
The maximum federal SSI payment rises from $994 to $1,029 a month for an individual and from $1,491 to $1,544 for a couple. The SSI resource limit stays at $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple.
Will the Medicare Part B premium take part of the increase?
Probably some of it. The standard Part B premium is $202.90 in 2026 and is deducted before the check arrives. The 2027 premium has not been announced; the Medicare trustees project about $209.50, roughly $6.60 more, which would leave about $52 of the $59 average SSDI increase.
Do I have to apply for the 2027 COLA?
No. The increase is automatic and nothing needs to be filed. No one from the Social Security Administration will call, text, or email asking for information to “process” the increase; any message like that is a scam.
If You’ve Been Denied and Need Your Disability Benefit Payments, We’re Here to Help You Into 2027 and Onwards
We have over 30 years of experience serving Albuquerque, the Greater Albuquerque Metro Area, and New Mexico. Don’t let a denial shape your future. Our compassionate and diligent team of legal representatives is here to get you the benefits you deserve. While we only help with disability benefit denials and appeals, we can help point you in the right direction if you need assistance. Don’t hesitate to use the buttons below to reach out to Michael Armstrong Law.