SOCIAL SECURITY BUMP: 68 Million Beneficiaries Get $75 Monthly Raise in 2027

Social Security's annual cost-of-living adjustment hit 3.6% for 2027, translating to roughly $75 extra per month for the average retiree. That adjustment is meant to protect the purchasing power of benefits as inflation erodes savings and fixed incomes—a persistent squeeze for older Americans who rely heavily on Social Security. Whether a 3.6% raise keeps pace depends on what beneficiaries actually spend on: healthcare costs and housing, which weigh heavily on retirees' budgets, have often outpaced general inflation, leaving many struggling regardless of the COLA bump.