The Social Security Administration (SSA) has set a key date for those who want to know their new benefit amount for 2027 before the paper letter arrives. Beneficiaries who have a my Social Security account and choose digital notices by November 18, 2026 will be able to see their COLA notice online.
The agency confirmed on October 14 that benefits will increase by 3.6% in 2027. However, each beneficiary’s exact amount depends on their own benefit and on deductions such as the Medicare Part B premium, so the personal notice is the only way to know the final figure.
What beneficiaries need to do
The requirements are simple:
- Create a my Social Security account | at ssa.gov, with a Login.gov or ID.me identity verification.
- Select digital notices | in the notice preferences of the account, so that letters are also delivered online.
- Do it before November 18 | to receive the COLA notice online as soon as it is available.
According to the SSA, people who do this can access their personal COLA notice up to three weeks earlier than those who wait for the letter. The notices usually appear online in late November or early December, while paper notices are mailed throughout December.
Why the personal notice matters
The 3.6% COLA is applied to the gross benefit. If the beneficiary has Medicare Part B deducted from the check, the net amount depends on the new premium, which the government has not announced yet. For 2026, the standard premium was $202.90 a month.
Other deductions, such as the withholding of an overpayment or a voluntary tax withholding, also affect the final deposit. The notice shows all of these items.
Who receives the increase
The COLA reaches about 76 million people: retirees, disability beneficiaries, survivors and SSI recipients. Retirees will see an average increase of about $75 a month, as we explained in our article about the 3.6% COLA for retirees. SSI recipients will see it first, on December 31, when the maximum federal payment rises to $1,029 a month.
Beneficiaries who do not want an online account will still receive the notice by mail. No action is needed to get the COLA: it is applied automatically.
