Social Security benefits will rise 3.6% in 2027, but that may not be enough to offset healthcare costs

Some advocates for older Americans want the government to change the index used for this adjustment to one more tailored to their spending patterns.

By: Pankaj Agrrawal, University of Maine, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: October 13, 2026

Words: 937

Last Updated: 1 day, 21 hours ago

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By Pankaj Agrrawal, University of Maine

Monthly checks for the nearly 76 million Americans who receive Social Security benefits will rise by 3.6% in 2027. The increase, announced on Oct. 14, 2026, is the largest since the one that took effect in 2023.

This cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, is how the government tries to make sure that the value of Social Security benefits keeps up with inflation. Without it, the same payment would …

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