How to Check Your 2027 Social Security Increase Online (Updated October 2026)

Last updated: November 2, 2026. Dates are from the SSA COLA FAQ and press release of October 14, 2026. Confirm details with the SSA before you act.

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Social Security and SSI payments rise 3.6% in 2027, and you do not need to apply. To see your exact new amount, sign in to your my Social Security account and open the Message Center. The SSA says account holders can view their COLA notice online starting in late November, up to three weeks before a paper notice arrives. To get the online notice, you must have created your account by November 18, 2026, and opted into paperless notices.

Key dates for your 2027 COLA notice
COLA announcedOctober 14, 2026
Deadline to create an account and opt into paperless noticesNovember 18, 2026
Online notices beginLate November, up to three weeks before paper
Paper notices mailedDuring December
First higher SSI paymentDecember 31, 2026
First higher Social Security paymentJanuary 2027
Call the SSA about a missing paper noticeNot before January

Source: SSA COLA FAQ KA-01951 and SSA press release of October 14, 2026.

Want the background? For how the 3.6% was calculated and what else changes in 2027, see Social Security COLA 2027 explained. This page is a practical checklist for finding and reading your notice.

1. Find Your Notice Online

Steps to see your 2027 Social Security increase online in my Social Security
  1. Sign in at SSA.gov/myaccount. If you do not have an account, create one first.
  2. Choose paperless notices in your account preferences if you have not already. The SSA says people without an account need to create one and enroll in paperless notices to see the notice online.
  3. Turn on alerts. Account holders can choose to get a text or email alert when a new message, including the COLA notice, reaches the Message Center.
  4. Open the Message Center and select your 2027 COLA notice.
  5. Save or print it. Lenders, landlords and benefit programs sometimes ask for proof of your new income.

2. Key Dates

Dates for the 2027 Social Security COLA notice: October 14, November 18, December and January
  • November 18, 2026: last day to create an account and opt into paperless notices to receive the online notice.
  • Late November: online notices begin appearing. The SSA FAQ also notes that retirement and disability beneficiaries can view the notice online starting in early December, so check again if yours is not there yet.
  • December: paper notices are mailed to people not enrolled in paperless notices. A friend or relative may get theirs before you do.
  • December 31, 2026: the first increased SSI payment.
  • January 2027: the first increased Social Security payment. Wait until January before contacting the SSA about a mailed notice.

3. What to Check on Your Notice

  • Your new monthly benefit before deductions. This is your gross amount after the 3.6% increase.
  • Deductions, such as a Medicare premium if one is taken from your payment, and any tax withholding you asked for.
  • The amount you will actually receive. If it looks lower than you expected, check the deductions first.
  • Your address and direct deposit details in your account. Update them before the January payment if anything has changed.

If you receive SSI, your notice also matters for other programs such as SNAP and Medicaid that count your income. See SSI Benefits 2027 for the new SSI amounts.

4. Estimate Your Increase Before the Notice Arrives

Quick COLA math: multiply your monthly benefit by 1.036 to estimate your 2027 amount

Multiply your current gross monthly benefit by 1.036. For example, a $2,000 benefit becomes about $2,072. Your notice is the official amount, and your deposit can be different because of Medicare premiums or withholding. On average, the SSA says retirement benefits rise by about $75 a month in 2027.

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5. If You Cannot Find Your Notice

  • Confirm that you opted into paperless notices. If not, your notice will come by mail during December.
  • Check the Message Center again in early December, especially if you receive retirement or disability benefits.
  • If a mailed notice has not arrived, wait until January before contacting the SSA, as the SSA advises.
  • Call 1-800-772-1213 or visit your local office if your January payment does not match your notice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to do anything to get the 3.6% increase?

No. The increase is automatic. The notice only tells you your new amount.

Why has my friend received a notice and I have not?

The SSA mails paper notices throughout December, so some people get theirs earlier. Online notices also appear only if you set up paperless notices in time.

Can I get an alert when my notice is ready?

Yes. The SSA says my Social Security account holders can choose to receive a text or email alert when a new message, including the COLA notice, is available in the Message Center.

I receive both Social Security and SSI. Will I get one notice or two?

Check your Message Center and mail for each benefit. Your Social Security benefit counts as income for SSI after the first $20 is excluded, so your SSI amount is figured again from the new $1,029 federal rate after your Social Security increase.

When will I see the extra money?

SSI recipients see it in the payment made December 31, 2026. Social Security beneficiaries see it in January 2027.

Related Guides

Sources

This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Aid Hub is not affiliated with the Social Security Administration. Always apply through official .gov websites.

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