Sources and updates
Every number on this site, where it comes from, and when we last checked it. When a figure changes, the change is logged below.
| Figure | Value | Status | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 COLA | 2.8% | Official | SSA press release, Oct 24, 2025 | 2026-09-29 |
| 2027 COLA | 3.6% | Official | SSA 2027 COLA fact sheet, Oct 14, 2026 (matches our BLS CPI-W calculation) | 2026-10-14 |
| 2027 COLA announcement | October 14, 2026 | Official | September 2026 CPI release date (BLS schedule, via The Motley Fool) | 2026-09-24 |
| 2025 Part B standard premium | $185 | Official | CMS 2026 Medicare Parts A & B fact sheet | 2026-09-29 |
| 2026 Part B standard premium | $202.90 | Official | CMS 2026 Medicare Parts A & B fact sheet | 2026-09-29 |
| 2027 Part B standard premium | $209.50 | Projection | 2026 Medicare Trustees Report projection (via MOAA). Official premium expected in November 2026. | 2026-09-24 |
| 2026 Part B deductible | $283 | Official | CMS 2026 Medicare Parts A & B fact sheet | 2026-09-29 |
| 2026 SSI federal payment, individual | $994 | Official | SSA 2026 COLA fact sheet | 2026-09-29 |
| 2026 SSI federal payment, couple | $1,491 | Official | SSA 2026 COLA fact sheet | 2026-09-29 |
| 2026 earnings test, under full retirement age | $24,480 | Official | SSA 2026 COLA fact sheet | 2026-09-29 |
| 2026 earnings test, year reaching full retirement age | $65,160 | Official | SSA 2026 COLA fact sheet | 2026-09-29 |
| 2026 maximum taxable earnings | $184,500 | Official | SSA 2026 COLA fact sheet | 2026-09-29 |
| 2026 quarter of coverage | $1,890 | Official | SSA 2026 COLA fact sheet | 2026-09-29 |
| 2026 substantial gainful activity, non-blind | $1,690 | Official | SSA 2026 COLA fact sheet | 2026-09-29 |
| 2026 substantial gainful activity, blind | $2,830 | Official | SSA 2026 COLA fact sheet | 2026-09-29 |
| 2026 trial work period month | $1,210 | Official | SSA 2026 COLA fact sheet | 2026-09-29 |
| 2026 maximum benefit at full retirement age | $4,152 | Official | SSA 2026 COLA fact sheet | 2026-09-29 |
| Average retired-worker benefit, Jan 2026 (estimated by SSA) | $2,071 | Official | SSA 2026 COLA fact sheet | 2026-09-29 |
| People receiving Social Security | 71 million | Official | SSA press release, Oct 24, 2025 | 2026-09-29 |
| People receiving SSI | 7.5 million | Official | SSA press release, Oct 24, 2025 | 2026-09-29 |
Update log
- — 2027 COLA: 3.6 (calculated) → 3.6 (official) (SSA 2027 COLA fact sheet, Oct 14, 2026 (matches our BLS CPI-W calculation))
- — 2027 COLA: 3.5 (estimate) → 3.6 (calculated) (Calculated from Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-W (Jul–Sep 2026 vs Jul–Sep 2025), the formula SSA uses. Awaiting SSA's announcement to mark official.)
Primary sources we rely on
- Social Security Administration: COLA information
- SSA Office of the Chief Actuary: COLA history
- SSA: 2027 payment schedule
- CMS: 2026 Medicare Parts A & B premiums and deductibles
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Consumer Price Index
- Medicare.gov
Forecasts from non-government sources are always labeled as estimates and named.