Social Security COLA by State: Which Retirees Get the Biggest 2027 Raise and Why?

Social Security COLA by State is the new way readers are searching for the 2027 raise, and the ranking has a clear leader. New Jersey retirees have the highest median Social Security check in the country at $2,256 a month, according to a Motley Fool tally of Social Security data reported by Fortune. Based on the current forecasts of 3.5% from The Senior Citizens League and 3.6% from AARP, a typical New Jersey retiree could see about $79 to $81 more a month in January. The national average retired worker benefit of $2,071 would rise by about $72.49 to $74.56 in the same scenarios.

The gap is real but small, and understanding why matters before you read any headline about states that gain the most. Every beneficiary in every state receives the same percentage, so the dollar raise follows the size of the check, and the size of the check follows lifetime earnings. The official 2027 COLA will be announced on October 14, when the Bureau of Labor Statistics releases the September inflation report. Below you will find the top ten states, what the ranking means, how state taxes can change your take, a calculator and the official links. We’ll be updating this article monthly.

Social Security COLA by State Key Highlights

Item	Latest detail
Official COLA announcement	Wednesday, October 14, 2026
Forecasts	3.5% (TSCL), 3.6% (AARP)
U.S. average retired worker benefit	$2,071 a month, per SSA figures cited by Fortune
Highest state median benefit	New Jersey, $2,256 a month
Estimated New Jersey raise	About $79 to $81 a month
Estimated national average raise	About $72.49 to $74.56 a month
Gap between top state and national average	About $6 to $7 a month
Source of state ranking	December 2025 SSA data analyzed by The Motley Fool
New benefits take effect	January 2027

Which States Get the Biggest Social Security COLA in 2027?

The ranking uses the median monthly benefit for retired workers by state. States with higher median checks produce larger dollar raises, no matter what the final COLA turns out to be.

Rank	State	Median monthly benefit	Raise at 3.5%	Raise at 3.6%
1	New Jersey	$2,256	about $79	about $81
2	Connecticut	$2,249	about $79	about $81
3	Delaware	$2,225	about $78	about $80
4	New Hampshire	$2,215	about $78	about $80
5	Maryland	$2,181	about $76	about $79
6	Washington	$2,144	about $75	about $77
7	Michigan	$2,139	about $75	about $77
8	Minnesota	$2,135	about $75	about $77
9	Massachusetts	$2,121	about $74	about $76
10	Utah	$2,090	about $73	about $75
	U.S. average	$2,071	about $72	about $75

All ten states have median benefits above $2,090, which is above the national average. The top of the list is dominated by the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Six of the ten, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Maryland, Washington, Massachusetts and Utah, also rank among the ten states with the highest median household income.

Look closely at the last column. Even the best state gains only a few dollars a month more than the national average. Over a year, that is roughly $80. For a retiree comparing states, the COLA is not a reason to move.

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Why the Same COLA Produces Different Dollar Raises?

SSA multiplies your current benefit by the COLA percentage and rounds down to the whole dollar. Everyone gets the same percentage, so a person with a larger check gets a larger raise. A retiree at $3,000 a month sees about $105 at 3.5%, and one at $1,200 sees about $42.

Your benefit depends on your lifetime earnings and the age at which you claimed. Someone who claimed at 62 gets a permanently reduced check, up to 30% less for a person whose full retirement age is 67, while someone who waited until 70 gets an increase of up to 24%. That is why the largest dollar raises tend to go to people who earned more and claimed later, and why a single state average hides large differences inside the state.

State of residence has no direct effect on your Social Security benefit. A policy expert quoted in the coverage said moving to a different state will not make your benefit larger. The link is indirect, through the wages people earned in the state.

Why Do Some States Have Higher Social Security Checks?

There are a few explanations.

Higher wages. Retirees in states with higher average earnings usually have higher benefits, since the benefit formula is based on career earnings. That helps explain New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland and Massachusetts, which are high wage states.

Labor force patterns. Workers who stay in the workforce longer, or claim at older ages, receive larger checks. One analysis suggested that more workers in some states delay claiming.

Industry history. Michigan ranks in the top ten for median benefit while ranking below the national average for median income. Earlier Motley Fool analysis pointed to the same pattern for Michigan and Indiana and said random chance and historical industry wages, such as in manufacturing, can play a role.

Gender and family patterns. Medians reflect who worked and for how long, and these patterns differ by state.

None of these factors is something a retiree can change by moving. They reflect a career that has already happened.

What the State Ranking Does Not Tell You

A median is the middle of a distribution. Half of retirees in New Jersey receive less than $2,256 a month. A New Jersey resident receiving $1,700 would see a smaller raise than the state median, about $60, while someone at $3,000 would see about $105.

The ranking is also for retired workers only. Disability beneficiaries, survivors and spouses have different averages. And medians do not tell you about the cost of living. A $2,256 check in a high cost state may buy less than a $1,900 check in a low cost state.

Finally, the ranking uses December 2025 data. Because new beneficiaries join with higher benefits each year, current medians are a bit higher.

Social Security and State Taxes: Where You Live Does Matter

The place where location really does change your take is state income tax. Most states do not tax Social Security benefits. A small group does, usually with exemptions based on age or income. As of the 2026 tax year, the states that tax benefits to some extent include Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Utah and Vermont, and several have been cutting or phasing out those taxes. Three of the top ten states by median benefit, Connecticut, Minnesota and Utah, are on that list.

The rules are complicated and they change often, so check your state’s revenue department. In a state with an income threshold, a bigger COLA can push some retirees over the line. Federal tax is separate. Up to 85% of benefits can be taxable at the federal level when combined income passes $25,000 for single filers or $32,000 for joint filers, and those thresholds are not indexed to inflation.

The Forecast Behind the Numbers: Why 3.5% to 3.6%

Early rankings of states used an old forecast of 2.7%. The estimate has risen since. The Senior Citizens League says 3.5% in what it calls its final prediction, and AARP says 3.6%. Two of the three months that make up the COLA are already known. The July inflation reading for urban wage earners was 3.4% and August was 3.5%.

September is the swing month. Early previews expect higher fuel prices to lift the September number, which could round the COLA up to 3.6%. If September lands near 3.45%, the COLA stays at 3.5%. The official figure comes on October 14.

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Medicare Part B: How Much of the State Raise You Keep

Most beneficiaries have the Part B premium deducted from their check. The standard premium is $202.90 in 2026, and the Medicare Trustees project $209.50 for 2027, an increase of $6.60. Private estimates run higher, between $215 and $219. The official number is expected in November.

The premium is the same in every state. That means it takes a larger share of a smaller raise. A New Jersey retiree at the median would keep about $72 of a $79 raise after a $6.60 increase, while someone at $1,200 would keep about $35 of a $42 raise.

Check size	Raise at 3.5%	After a $6.60 Part B increase
$1,200	$42	about $35
$2,071 (U.S. average)	$72	about $66
$2,256 (New Jersey median)	$79	about $72
$3,000	$105	about $98

Social Security COLA by State Calculator

The calculator attached to this article lets you test the numbers. Choose a state from the top ten list, the U.S. average, or pick the option to enter your own benefit. Select a COLA scenario from 3.4% to 3.7%, and enter the expected Part B increase, which starts at $6.60.

The tool shows your new monthly benefit, the raise per month and per year, how your raise compares with the national average and your net raise after Medicare. For a Connecticut, Minnesota or Utah selection, it adds a reminder that the state taxes some benefits. Use it again after October 14 with the official percentage and again in November when the Part B premium is announced.

How to Check Your Official 2027 Raise?

You do not apply for the COLA. It is added automatically. Here is how to confirm your amount.

1. On October 14, read the official percentage on the SSA COLA page.
2. Sign in to your my Social Security account, or register if you do not have one.
3. Turn on electronic notices so you receive your COLA letter quickly.
4. In early December, open your notice and check your new gross benefit, Medicare deduction and net deposit.
5. Confirm your bank details and mailing address.

If you have not claimed retirement benefits yet, you can apply online. The COLA applies to your benefit starting in the year you turn 62, so waiting does not mean losing raises.

Processing Time: When You Will Know Your Own Number

The percentage is public on October 14. Individual dollar amounts arrive later. SSA posts notices in online accounts in early December and mails copies. If you do not see one by late December, check your account or call the national number. The Part B premium is announced separately in November, so some notices may carry the final premium only when they are issued.

Payment Schedule: When the Raise Reaches Your Bank Account

The new amount appears in the payments you receive in January 2027. SSI recipients receive their January payment, with the COLA, on Thursday, December 31, 2026.

Group	January 2027 payment date
Birthdays on the 1st to 10th	Wednesday, January 13
Birthdays on the 11th to 20th	Wednesday, January 20
Birthdays on the 21st to 31st	Wednesday, January 27
SSI	Thursday, December 31, 2026
Paid on the 3rd of the month	Check the SSA calendar

Should You Move to a State With a Bigger Social Security Raise?

No. The state ranking is a description of who lives where, not a reward for living there. A move will not change your benefit. If you are thinking about relocating in retirement, look at state income taxes, property taxes, housing costs, health care access and distance from family. Those factors are worth far more than a few dollars of COLA. Also keep in mind that Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans differ by county, so a move can change your coverage and costs.

Five Ways to Make the Most of Your 2027 Raise, Wherever You Live

Plan with 3.5%, and test 3.6%. Review your Medicare plan during open enrollment, which runs from October 15 to December 7. Check your state’s tax rules for Social Security, especially if you live in one of the states that tax benefits. Update your direct deposit and address with SSA. And set aside part of the raise for expenses that tend to rise faster than the COLA, such as insurance, property taxes and prescriptions.

Beware of COLA Scams

Scammers like announcement season. Be wary of texts or emails that say you must verify your account or pay a fee to get your raise. SSA does not charge for a COLA, which is automatic. Type the official address yourself, do not click links in unexpected messages, and report suspicious contacts to the SSA inspector general.

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Official Websites and Resources

Resource	What it does	Link
SSA COLA page	Official percentage and history	https://www.ssa.gov/cola/
my Social Security login and registration	Create an account, see notices, check your benefit	https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/
SSA Monthly Statistical Snapshot	Average benefits and beneficiary counts	https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/quickfacts/stat_snapshot/
SSA statistics by state	State data on beneficiaries and benefits	https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/statcomps/oasdi_sc/
BLS Consumer Price Index	September CPI release and CPI-W data	https://www.bls.gov/cpi/
Medicare	Part B premium and open enrollment	https://www.medicare.gov
Apply for retirement benefits	Start an application online	https://www.ssa.gov/apply
IRS taxes on Social Security	Federal tax on benefits	https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc423
SSA Office of the Inspector General	Report fraud	https://oig.ssa.gov

FAQs

Conclusion

Social Security COLA by state tells a simple story with a modest ending. New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, New Hampshire and Maryland lead the ranking because their retirees have the largest checks, which could mean about $79 to $81 more a month in New Jersey. The national average raise is about $72 to $75, so the advantage is only a few dollars. The percentage is the same everywhere, your own benefit sets your dollar raise and state taxes and Medicare costs shape what you keep. Use the calculator, plan around the lower forecast and check your my Social Security account in December. We will update this guide as soon as the official COLA is announced.

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