Spousal Social Security Benefits Could Pass a Significant Milestone in 2027

The average monthly spousal Social Security benefit sits at $986 as of April 2026. While no figures are official yet, if the projected 3.9% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2027 holds, that average rises to about $1,024, crossing the $1,000 mark for the first time. 

The Social Security Administration (SSA) is set to confirm the 2027 COLA on October 14. Here's what you need to know if spousal benefits are part of your retirement plan.

Editor's note: Spousal benefit figures come from the Social Security Administration's April 2026 Monthly Statistical Snapshot. The 2027 COLA projection is from The Senior Citizens League as of May 2026 and is subject to change.

Why the 3.9% projection is a significant jump

The Senior Citizens League, a non-partisan seniors' advocacy group, had been projecting a 2027 COLA of 2.8%, the same as 2026, for the first months of this year. 

That changed, however, on May 12 when April inflation data came in at 3.8%, driven largely by surging energy and gasoline prices. At that point, the advocacy group revised its 2027 forecast upward to 3.9%.

This is still an early projection

The SSA calculates the official COLA using average third-quarter Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) data from July, August, and September. 

Five more months of inflation data arrive before that calculation is made. Projections from May are based only on one month's reading and could shift considerably in either direction by October, depending on how energy costs and other factors develop throughout the rest of the year.

Spousal benefits are capped at 50% of your spouse's full benefit amount

A spousal Social Security benefit is calculated as a percentage of your spouse's primary insurance amount (PIA), the monthly figure they are entitled to at their full retirement age. The maximum for a spouse is 50% of that amount. 

If your own Social Security benefit is larger, the SSA pays your entitlement instead. You can't receive both payments. The spousal benefit only applies when it results in a higher payment than your own earned benefit.

Spousal benefits max out at full retirement age, not 70

Regular Social Security retirement benefits grow by around 8% per year if you delay past full retirement age up to age 70. Spousal benefits don't work that way. Once you reach full retirement age (currently 67 for most people), the spousal benefit is capped at 50% of your spouse's primary insurance amount and waiting longer adds nothing.

Claiming at age 62 may permanently reduce the spousal benefit to as little as 32.5% of your spouse's primary insurance amount.

Who qualifies for a spousal benefit

To receive a spousal benefit, you must be at least 62 years old, and your spouse must already be collecting Social Security retirement or disability benefits. The benefit is also available to divorced spouses who are married for at least 10 years and remain unmarried. 

Spousal benefits are separate from survivor benefits, which are paid after a spouse passes away and are calculated using a different formula.

Rising Medicare premiums may reduce net gain

For beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Part B, premiums are deducted directly from your Social Security checks. The standard monthly Part B premium is $202.90 in 2026. 

According to the 2025 Medicare Trustees Report, that figure is projected to reach $218.60 in 2027. This is a $15.70 premium increase. It would absorb a notable portion of a $38 spousal benefit COLA, leaving a net increase of roughly $22 per month to hit your bank account, assuming there are no other deductions.

The official COLA announcement is on October 14

The Social Security Administration is scheduled to release the official 2027 COLA in October 2026, following the publication of September's inflation data on October 14. 

Spousal benefits recipients are expected to receive a personalized notice from the SSA in December that shows their exact new monthly amount. While you could use the current projections as a guide for your retirement budget planning, you'll need to reassess once you receive your actual figure.

Buying power concerns remain

Even if the average spousal benefit crosses $1,000 in 2027, that doesn't mean recipients are any better off than they were a decade ago. 

The Senior Citizens League estimates that Social Security benefits have lost roughly 14% of their buying power since 2016 as COLAs have consistently fallen short of what seniors actually spend on health care, housing, and utilities. A higher COLA is definitely a step forward, but it doesn't do much to close that significant gap.

Bottom line

The average spousal Social Security benefit of $986 is the highest it has ever been, and a 3.9% COLA for 2027 may push it past the $1,000 mark for the first time ever. Just keep in mind that Medicare Part B premium increases and any other deductions could reduce how much of that gain actually frees up your retirement budget.

The 3.9% figure remains an estimate until October. Log into your my Social Security account to review your current spousal benefit. A personalized December notice from the SSA is going to show your exact 2027 amount once the official COLA is confirmed. 

If you use the projection for retirement planning, revisit the numbers once the official COLA and Medicare premium figures are available.