2027 Social Security changes: COLA, your new check, and the earnings limits
Each October, SSA announces next year’s cost-of-living adjustment and updates the limits that apply if you work while collecting benefits. Here’s what’s changing for 2027, a quick calculator for your new monthly check, and what the new earnings limits mean if you’re still working.
Official: SSA announced the 2027 figures on October 14, 2026. Every number below comes from ssa.gov (sources at the bottom).
2027 at a glance
3.6%
Starts with January 2027 benefits. For comparison, 2026’s COLA was 2.8%.
$25,560
$1 withheld for every $2 over. 2026 limit: $24,480.
$67,920
$1 withheld for every $3 over, counting only months before FRA. 2026 limit: $65,160.
No limit
Once you reach full retirement age, work no longer reduces your benefits.
Sources: SSA 2027 COLA Fact Sheet; SSA, Exempt Amounts Under the Earnings Test; 2026 figures from the SSA 2026 COLA Fact Sheet.
What’s my new check? (2027 COLA calculator)
Enter your current monthly benefit to estimate your 2027 amount.
2027 earnings-test limits (working before full retirement age)
If you’re under full retirement age (FRA) and working while you collect, SSA compares your earnings with a yearly limit. Go over it and SSA holds back some benefits. Here are the 2027 limits next to 2026’s:
| Your situation | 2026 limit | 2027 limit | Withholding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under FRA all year | $24,480 ($2,040/mo) | $25,560 ($2,130/mo) | $1 for every $2 over |
| Year you reach FRA (earnings before your FRA month only) | $65,160 ($5,430/mo) | $67,920 ($5,660/mo) | $1 for every $3 over |
| From the month you reach FRA | No limit | No limit | None |
Monthly amounts apply only under SSA’s special first-year rule. Sources: SSA, Exempt Amounts Under the Earnings Test; SSA, Receiving Benefits While Working.
Want your own estimate? Our free earnings test calculator shows which limit applies, how much SSA would withhold, and roughly which months — pick 2027 in the year box.
Get the free Earnings-Test Tracker
A month-by-month spreadsheet (Excel or Google Sheets) plus a printable PDF to tally your earnings against SSA’s limit — now with the 2027 limits. Enter your email, confirm, and download. You’ll also hear when we update for 2027. Unsubscribe anytime.
Uses Kit (kit.com) for email. Double opt-in. See our privacy notes. More about the tracker.
Frequently asked questions
When does the 2027 COLA show up in my check?
SSA’s cost-of-living adjustment starts with benefits payable for January, which are paid in January 2027. Because January 1 is a holiday, SSI’s January payment is scheduled for December 31, 2026. Check your own COLA notice in your my Social Security Message Center for your exact amount.
Will my check go up by exactly the COLA percentage?
Close, but not always to the penny. SSA applies the COLA and rounds down, and the Medicare Part B premium (set separately by CMS) is usually deducted from the check, so your deposit can rise by less than the percentage suggests. The calculator lets you include the Part B premium once you know it.
What is the earnings test, and why do the limits change?
If you collect Social Security before full retirement age and keep working, SSA withholds some benefits when your earnings go over a yearly limit. SSA raises the limits each year with average wages, and announces next year’s figures alongside the COLA.
Does the COLA apply if SSA is withholding my benefits because of work?
Yes. The COLA increases your benefit amount whether or not some checks are being withheld under the earnings test. Withheld benefits also aren’t lost: SSA credits those months when you reach full retirement age.
Is RetireTally part of Social Security?
No. RetireTally is an independent site. We copy figures from ssa.gov and link to the source so you can check them. SSA’s notice to you is always the final word.
Sources
- SSA — 2027 Cost-of-Living Adjustment Fact Sheet
- SSA — Exempt Amounts Under the Earnings Test
- SSA — Cost-of-Living Adjustments history
- SSA — 2026 Cost-of-Living Adjustment Fact Sheet
- SSA — Receiving Benefits While Working
- BLS — Consumer Price Index release schedule
Figures checked against ssa.gov on October 14, 2026.
Disclaimer. RetireTally is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the Social Security Administration (SSA) or any government agency. This page and calculator are for general information only and are not financial, legal, tax, or benefits advice. Estimates may differ from your SSA notice. Always verify with SSA at ssa.gov, your my Social Security account, or 1-800-772-1213.