Social Security increase will affect thousands in Beaufort County in 2027
October 15, 2026
Social Security and Supplemental Security Income recipients will receive a 3.6% increase in monthly benefits in 2027, the Social Security Administration announced Wednesday, Oct. 14. The new cost-of-living adjustment will raise monthly payments for retirees, people with disabilities and Supplemental Security Income recipients.
More than 60,000 Beaufort County residents received Social Security benefits in December 2025, according to the Social Security Administration. The cost-of-living adjustment, known as COLA, is intended to help benefits keep pace with inflation. The increase will affect nearly 72 million Social Security beneficiaries nationwide, along with about 7.3 million people who receive Supplemental Security Income, or SSI. Some recipients qualify for both programs.
The Social Security Administration estimates the adjustment will raise the average monthly retirement benefit by about $75, bringing it to approximately $2,170 in January 2027. Individual increases will vary based on each recipient’s current benefit. SSI payments will also rise by 3.6%. The maximum federal monthly payment for an eligible individual will increase from $994 in 2026 to $1,029 in 2027. For an eligible couple, the maximum will rise from $1,491 to $1,544.
SSI is a needs-based federal program that provides monthly payments to qualifying adults and children who have disabilities or blindness, as well as people age 65 and older who meet income and resource requirements. The actual payment depends on factors such as income, living arrangements and eligibility. The maximum federal payment is not necessarily the amount every recipient receives. Some states provide supplemental payments, and other circumstances can affect the final benefit.
The cost-of-living notices will be available starting in late November for eligible account holders who have enrolled in paperless notices. Notices will also be mailed in December. Recipients can find official information about the 2027 adjustment, benefit amounts and eligibility at ssa.gov/cola and ssa.gov/ssi.
