A Shrinking Dollar and a Growing Check: SSI Goes Up 3.6% in 2027

Questions this episode answers

Key facts

• 2027 cost of living adjustment (COLA): 3.6% for Social Security and SSI (Social Security Administration).
• 2027 federal SSI maximum: up to $1,029 a month for one person and $1,544 for a couple (estimated). Other income can make it less. Some states add a supplement.
• First increased SSI payment: December 31, 2026. Separate: Social Security benefits rise starting in January 2027.
• COLA notices: online in late November 2026 in the my Social Security Message Center, for accounts created by November 18, 2026. Notices also come by mail.
• Social Security services are free. Never pay anyone, and never send gift cards or wire money to someone who says they are from the government.
• Social Security: 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). Applying for SSI is free, and you apply yourself.

Chapters

1. 00:00Last time: Texas, food help within 7 days for some families who just lost their pay
2. 00:06Hook: what does a shrinking dollar have to do with a growing check?
3. 00:34This is Your Daily Benefit
4. 00:39What SSI is, and who it is for
5. 00:56The 3.6% raise, called COLA
6. 01:122027 SSI: up to $1,029 a month for one person, $1,544 for a couple (estimated)
7. 01:43When: SSI on December 31, 2026; separate: Social Security in January 2027
8. 01:56Your COLA notice: my Social Security, account by November 18, 2026
9. 02:16Scams: Social Security services are free, never send gift cards
10. 02:36A made up neighbor on SSI
11. 03:00Not on SSI yet? You may qualify. 1-800-772-1213
12. 03:17Free to apply, and you apply yourself
13. 03:27Tomorrow: help with heating bills
14. 03:33Wrap up: the shrinking dollar, and the tagline
15. 03:51AI voice disclosure

Find help

• Full episode page with transcript
• All Your Daily Benefit episodes
• Social Security COLA page (SSA)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSA)
• Social Security COLA 2027: What the 3.6% Raise Means for Your Benefits (Benefit Bull guide)
• The Senior Money Checklist (Benefit Bull guide)
• What Happens When You Apply (Benefit Bull guide)

Benefit Bull helps you find programs. You always apply yourself, through the official program, and applying is free.

Sources

Full transcript

1. 00:01

   Host 2: Last time was Texas, where some families who just lost their pay may get food help within seven days. But today, I have a quick puzzle for you. So, what does a shrinking dollar have to do with a growing check?

2. 00:13

   Host 1: A shrinking dollar?

3. 00:15

   Host 1: You mean like how things cost more at the store, right?

4. 00:18

   Host 2: Exactly, yeah.

5. 00:19

   Host 1: Like your dollar just buys way less food or gas now.

6. 00:22

   Host 2: Right. When prices go up, fixed incomes really lose their power. But here's the surprise. SSI goes up 3.6%, and the first bigger payment comes December 31, 2026. This is Your Daily Benefit.

7. 00:36

   Host 1: Wow, that's huge news.

8. 00:37

   Host 2: Yeah, it really is.

9. 00:39

   Host 1: We should probably explain the program for anyone new listening. So we're talking about Supplemental Security Income.

10. 00:44

    Host 2: Right, we just call it SSI.

11. 00:45

    Host 1: Exactly, it's a monthly payment for people with a disability, people who are blind or people 65 and older.

12. 00:52

    Host 2: And they must have little income and few resources, right?

13. 00:55

    Host 1: Yep, that's right.

14. 00:56

    Host 2: So they get a 3.6% raise. The government calls this a cost of living adjustment.

15. 01:01

    Host 1: Or COLA.

16. 01:02

    Host 2: Right, COLA. They do that so your check keeps up with everyday prices.

17. 01:06

    Host 1: Yeah, so like if bread or rent costs more, your check goes up to match it. It just protects what you can actually buy.

18. 01:12

    Host 2: That makes sense. And we have the new numbers for 2027. So the top national SSI is up to $1,029 a month for one person, and that's estimated.

19. 01:22

    Host 1: Wait, really?

20. 01:23

    Host 2: Yeah.

21. 01:24

    Host 1: What if two people are married and they both get SSI?

22. 01:26

    Host 2: Then it's up to $1,544 for a couple, also estimated. But remember, that's just the top amount.

23. 01:34

    Host 1: Right, because if you have other money coming in, your check might be less.

24. 01:37

    Host 2: Exactly. But on the flip side, some states actually add a little extra money on top.

25. 01:43

    Host 1: That's good to know. Well, let's talk about when the money actually arrives.

26. 01:47

    Host 2: Okay, so SSI is December 31, 2026.

27. 01:50

    Host 1: Okay, got it.

28. 01:51

    Host 2: Now, keep this separate. Social Security is January 2027. So how do you find your exact new amount?

29. 01:59

    Host 1: Well, you can look online. Notices go online in late November.

30. 02:03

    Host 2: Oh, nice and early.

31. 02:04

    Host 1: Yeah, you'll find yours in the my Social Security Message Center.

32. 02:07

    Host 2: But wait, there's a hard deadline, right? You must make the account by November 18, 2026.

33. 02:11

    Host 1: Exactly. If you wait until December, you miss seeing the notice early.

34. 02:16

    Host 2: Right. And please be careful right now. Bad actors always try to trick people when new numbers come out.

35. 02:21

    Host 1: Yes, they do. Just remember, Social Security services are completely free.

36. 02:26

    Host 2: Totally free. Never pay anyone to help you, and please never send gift cards.

37. 02:30

    Host 1: Yeah, the government will never ask for a gift card. It sounds wild, but it actually happens.

38. 02:35

    Host 2: It really does. So let's walk through how this should look. Picture a pretend neighbor.

39. 02:40

    Host 1: Okay.

40. 02:41

    Host 2: He's entirely made up, of course.

41. 02:43

    Host 1: Right, totally made up.

42. 02:44

    Host 2: He has a disability and he's on SSI. He wants to know his new check amount.

43. 02:49

    Host 1: So he makes his account by the November 18 deadline.

44. 02:52

    Host 2: Right, and then late in the month, he checks his notice safely in his account.

45. 02:57

    Host 1: And most importantly, he pays no one.

46. 02:59

    Host 2: Perfect, simple and safe. But what if you aren't on SSI yet?

47. 03:03

    Host 1: Well, you may qualify. You can always check. The main number is 1-800-772-1213.

48. 03:11

    Host 2: And if you need it, the TTY number is 1-800-325-0778.

49. 03:17

    Host 1: Just remember, it's free to apply.

50. 03:19

    Host 2: Right, you apply yourself on the real program's website or phone line.

51. 03:23

    Host 1: Yeah, Benefit Bull helps you look for programs, but you still apply yourself.

52. 03:26

    Host 2: That's a great point to remember. So tomorrow we look at heating help. We'll learn why families with a young child are one group it aims to help.

53. 03:33

    Host 1: That's a good one. You know, think about that shrinking dollar we started with. Prices change fast. It just makes you wonder what other creative ways programs might use to keep up with the real cost of living in the future.

54. 03:45

    Host 2: That's true. And hey, this and a lot more, you can find at benefitbull.com.

55. 03:51

    Disclosure: Quick note: the voices on Your Daily Benefit are AI generated.