Here’s the Maximum Social Security Increase You Could Get From a 3.6% 2027 COLA

The 2027 Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will add up to $187 to the wealthiest seniors’ Social Security benefits, if the latest projections are correct. The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) estimates that next year’s COLA will come in around 3.6%.

We won’t know the actual 2027 Social Security COLA until Oct. 14, 2026. We’re still waiting on a few key pieces of inflation data that could change the picture. Higher inflation would mean a larger COLA, while cooling inflation would lead to a lower benefit boost for seniors.

Image source: Getty Images.

In any case, the average senior won’t get anything close to the maximum $187 increase. COLAs are percentages, so those who receive larger checks today will also get larger COLAs in dollar terms. The largest Social Security check in 2026 is $5,181, but most people receive far less.

The average Social Security benefit as of July 2026 is just $2,086 per month. A 3.6% COLA would add roughly $75 to this check, bringing the new average to somewhere around $2,161 per month. That might be less than what you were hoping for, but it is larger than the boost seniors saw in 2026.

Once we know the actual 2027 COLA, you can add the percentage to your checks to get a rough approximation of what your Social Security benefits will look like next year. Keep in mind that if you’re on Medicare, you’ll have your Part B premiums withheld from your checks, and these are also set to increase next year.