SSA Estimates Average Age-65 Social Security Benefit at $1,665 in 2027 as 3.6% COLA Takes Effect
Updated
Updated · AOL · Nov 11
SSA Estimates Average Age-65 Social Security Benefit at $1,665 in 2027 as 3.6% COLA Takes Effect
3 articles · Updated · AOL · Nov 11
Summary
$1,665 a month is the estimated 2027 Social Security benefit for the average 65-year-old retired worker, up from $1,607.27 in December 2025 after applying the SSA's 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment.
That figure is a broad average for current 65-year-old beneficiaries already receiving checks, not a forecast for everyone turning 65 in 2027 or a guarantee of an individual benefit.
Claiming age and lifetime earnings drive much of the variation: filing at 62 can cut benefits by up to 30% for workers with a full retirement age of 67, while delaying past FRA adds 8% a year until 70.
Medicare can further shrink take-home payments because Part B premiums are often withheld from Social Security checks; the standard 2026 premium is $202.90 a month and can reach $689.90 for higher earners.
For context, the SSA projects the average benefit for all retired workers—not just 65-year-olds—to rise to $2,170 a month in 2027 after the same COLA.