The Social Security Administration has set Nov. 18, 2026, as the cutoff for beneficiaries who want early electronic access to their personalized 2027 cost-of-living adjustment notice. People who create a personal my Social Security account and sign up for paperless notices by that date will be able to view the notice online in late November, according to an SSA announcement issued Oct. 14.
The date is an administrative deadline, not a deadline to receive or claim the increase. Beneficiaries who do not meet it will not lose the adjustment. SSA said paper notices will be mailed during December, while electronic access will allow eligible account holders to see their individualized information sooner.
What the notice will show
SSA announced a 3.6% COLA for 2027. A cost-of-living adjustment is an annual change intended to account for inflation, but the percentage does not produce the same dollar increase for every recipient. The agency estimates that the average retirement benefit will increase by about $75 per month.
The personalized notice is intended to show how the national adjustment applies to an individual’s benefit. For example, a person receiving $1,500 per month would see an illustrative gross increase of $54 at 3.6%, while someone receiving $2,500 would see $90. Those examples are not guarantees of a particular payment. The final amount depends on the beneficiary’s current benefit and applicable deductions.
| Item | Information reported by SSA |
|---|---|
| 2027 COLA | 3.6% |
| Estimated average monthly increase | About $75 |
| Early-access cutoff | Nov. 18, 2026 |
| Paper notice delivery | During December 2026 |
Why individual payments may differ
The COLA applies to benefits, but the amount reaching a bank account can be different from the gross increase. Medicare premiums, when deducted from Social Security, can reduce the payment received. The personalized notice will include updated benefit information and applicable deductions, giving beneficiaries a figure tied to their own record rather than a national estimate.
SSA said people seeking early access should start at the official my Social Security website, sign in or create an account, then review their Message Center and notification preferences and select paperless notices. The agency also said there is no penalty for choosing to continue receiving notices on paper. The online deadline affects when the notice can be accessed, not the amount or availability of the 2027 adjustment.
- Nov. 18, 2026, is the cutoff for setting up an account and paperless notices for early electronic access.
- Online notices are expected in late November; mailed notices are expected during December.
- The 3.6% COLA will not translate into the same dollar increase for every beneficiary, and deductions such as Medicare premiums can affect the payment received.
