The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced on Wednesday a 3.6% increase in benefits for 2027, a measure that will affect about 76 million people, including thousands of Cuban retirees living in Miami and other cities in the United States.
The cost of living adjustment (COLA), the largest since 2023, will represent an average increase of 75 dollars per month in retirement benefits, although the amount will depend on what each beneficiary receives.
According to official projections, the average monthly benefit for retired workers will increase from $2,095 to $2,170, although the additional amount will depend on how much each individual receives.
For example, a person currently earning $1,500 a month will receive an additional approximately $54, while someone earning $2,000 will see an increase of about $72.
However, the money that ultimately reaches the bank account may be less due to Medicare deductions, taxes, or other applicable withholdings.
When will the payments start arriving?
The nearly 72 million beneficiaries of Social Security for retirement, disability, or survivor benefits will receive the increase starting in January 2027, corresponding to the benefits of December 2026.
In contrast, the approximately 7.3 million beneficiaries of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) will receive the adjusted amount on December 31, 2026, because January 1 is a holiday.
The SSA clarified that some individuals receive benefits from both programs, so the total number of beneficiaries does not equal the sum of those two figures.
No application or paperwork will be required to receive the increase, as it will be applied automatically.
How to know how much each check will increase?
Beneficiaries who have not chosen to receive electronic notifications will receive a personalized notice by postal mail in December, detailing the new monthly amount and the corresponding deductions.
Those who have an account on "my Social Security" will be able to check that information starting at the end of November, up to three weeks before receiving the notice by postal mail.
To gain early access to the document, those who do not yet have an account will need to create one and activate electronic notifications before November 18, 2026.
The 3.6% increase exceeds the preliminary estimates that pointed to 3.4% and also the 2.8% adjustment applied in 2026.
According to the official SSA formula, the new percentage reflects the increase in inflation measured by the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners (CPI-W), which averaged 3.6% higher in the third quarter of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025.
For Cuban retirees who rely on these payments to cover food, housing, and medical care, the increase will mean additional income, though its real impact will depend on the rise in their expenses and the deductions applied to each check.
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