Social Security beneficiaries got some tough news recently as the 2027 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) prediction fell from 3.8% in July to 3.6% in August. If the new estimate proves accurate, seniors will see a smaller benefit boost than had been anticipated. But there is a silver lining.
Even a 3.6% COLA would still be above average and well above the 2.8% boost seniors saw this year. It would also be enough to help the average spousal Social Security benefit reach a major milestone it’s been inching toward for years.
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The average spousal Social Security benefit will likely cross the four-figure mark in 2027
The average spousal Social Security benefit lags well behind the average retirement benefit. The typical retired worker received about $2,086 in July 2026, while the average spousal beneficiary received just $987 per month. These averages tick up slowly over time as new beneficiaries with higher average earnings apply, but the coming COLA will bring a much bigger jump.
A 3.6% boost would raise the average retirement benefit by $75 to $2,161 per month, and the average spousal benefit would climb by $36. That’s not a ton, but it is enough to push the typical monthly spousal benefit over $1,000 for the first time.
Of course, some people already receive spousal benefits of more than $1,000, and others still will not receive this much, even after the 2027 Social Security COLA takes effect. It depends on the size of your current checks.
How to know how much you’ll get from Social Security in 2027
The Social Security Administration will announce the 2027 Social Security COLA on Oct. 14, 2026. That’s the date it finally gets the last piece of inflation data necessary to run the calculation.
The COLA is a percentage, so you’ll have to do a bit of math to figure out how this will affect your checks next year. Multiply the COLA percentage by your current checks, and then add this amount to your existing benefit. This will give you a rough idea of what to expect.
The amount you receive could be slightly different, especially if you have Medicare Part B premiums taken out of your checks. These will likely increase next year as well, so that may eat into some of your COLA gains.
The government will send you a personalized COLA notice in December, giving the exact benefit amount you’ll receive. Wait until you’ve reviewed this before reaching out to the Social Security Administration with questions about how your benefits will change next year.
