No state has published an official 2027 SSI state supplement amount yet, and most of them never will announce one, because most state supplements do not change with the annual cost-of-living adjustment. The federal portion of your check is projected to rise from $994 to roughly $1,025 to $1,029 for an individual, based on 2027 COLA estimates running 3.1% to 3.6%. The state portion sitting on top of it is set by your state legislature or by a longstanding agreement with the Social Security Administration, and in most states it has not moved in years. California has already confirmed this in writing: the Governor's 2026-27 budget holds the state supplement flat at $239.94 for an individual, so the entire increase in a Californian's 2027 check comes from the federal side.
The Social Security Administration announces the official 2027 COLA on October 14, 2026. Every 2027 figure in this article is a projection until then. The 2026 amounts are the verified part.
How the 2027 Number Gets Built
Your total SSI check has two layers, and they move on completely different schedules.
Layer one, the federal benefit rate (FBR). This is the same in all 50 states and it is indexed to inflation. SSA compares the average Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) for July, August, and September 2026 to the same three months in 2025. That percentage becomes the 2027 COLA and gets applied to the FBR.
Layer two, the state supplement. Also called the State Supplementary Payment (SSP) or Optional State Supplement (OSS). This is state money, set by state law or state budget. Federal rules under 20 CFR 416.2096 require a state that paid a supplement after June 30, 1977 to keep paying one, either by holding payment levels at or above their adjusted March 1983 levels (the payment levels method) or by keeping total annual spending at or above the prior year (the total expenditure method). Neither method requires a state to raise its supplement when the federal COLA lands. That is the single most misunderstood point in this whole topic.
So the honest math for 2027 is:
Projected 2027 total = (2026 FBR x estimated 2027 COLA) + your state's 2026 supplement, unless your state acts to change it.
Where the 2027 COLA Estimate Stands
As of early September 2026, published estimates cluster in a narrow band:
| Source | 2027 COLA Estimate | As of |
|---|
| The Senior Citizens League | 3.6% | August 2026, revised down from 3.8% |
| AARP | 3.5% | August 2026 |
| Lower end of published forecasts | 3.2% | After July CPI data |
| California LAO / Governor's budget assumption | 3.1% | 2026-27 budget planning |
For comparison, the confirmed 2026 COLA was 2.8%. July 2026 CPI-W came in 3.4% higher year over year. Two of the three months that actually count (August and September 2026) were not final when these estimates were published, which is why the range is still open.
Projected 2027 Federal Benefit Rate
Applying the estimate range to the confirmed 2026 rates, with SSA's usual practice of rounding down to the whole dollar:
| COLA Estimate | Individual (2027 projected) | Couple (2027 projected) | Essential Person (2027 projected) |
|---|
| 3.1% | $1,024 | $1,537 | $513 |
| 3.2% | $1,025 | $1,538 | $513 |
| 3.5% | $1,028 | $1,543 | $515 |
| 3.6% | $1,029 | $1,544 | $515 |
Confirmed 2026 rates for reference: $994 individual, $1,491 couple, $498 essential person. For a deeper breakdown of the federal side alone, see our SSI federal benefit rate 2027 projections.
The Three Groups of States
Every state falls into one of three buckets, and which bucket you are in determines how much of the 2027 picture is knowable right now.
Group 1, no supplement (6 states). Arizona, Arkansas, Mississippi, North Dakota, Tennessee, and West Virginia pay no state supplement. Your 2027 check is exactly the federal benefit rate. This is the one group where the 2027 projection is clean, because there is no second layer to guess at.
Group 2, federally administered (12 jurisdictions). California, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Iowa, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont have SSA pay the supplement as part of one combined check. You do not file separately. Amounts are fixed by agreement with the state, and most have been static for years.
Group 3, state administered (roughly 33 states). The state pays its supplement through its own agency, often tied to Medicaid or adult public assistance eligibility, and often only to specific categories such as people in residential care. Payment schedules, application rules, and adjustment timing are all set at the state level.
Projected 2027 Amounts: No-Supplement States
| State | 2026 Supplement | 2026 Total | 2027 Projected Total (individual) |
|---|
| Arizona | None | $994 | $1,024 to $1,029 |
| Arkansas | None | $994 | $1,024 to $1,029 |
| Mississippi | None | $994 | $1,024 to $1,029 |
| North Dakota | None | $994 | $1,024 to $1,029 |
| Tennessee | None | $994 | $1,024 to $1,029 |
| West Virginia | None | $994 | $1,024 to $1,029 |
Projected 2027 Amounts: Federally Administered States
The table below uses the 2026 supplement for an individual living independently in their own household, which is the category most readers fall into. Amounts for people in residential care, assisted living, or someone else's household are different and usually higher.
| State | 2026 SSP (individual, living independently) | 2027 SSP Outlook | 2027 Projected Total |
|---|
| California | $239.94 | Held flat in Governor's 2026-27 budget | approx. $1,264 to $1,269 |
| Vermont | approx. $99.26 | No announced change | approx. $1,123 to $1,128 |
| Pennsylvania | $22.10 | No announced change | approx. $1,046 to $1,051 |
| Nevada | approx. $18.00 | No announced change | approx. $1,042 to $1,047 |
| Hawaii | approx. $11.70 | No announced change | approx. $1,036 to $1,041 |
| Delaware | Varies by living arrangement | No announced change | FBR plus supplement |
| District of Columbia | Varies by living arrangement | No announced change | FBR plus supplement |
| Iowa | Varies by living arrangement | No announced change | FBR plus supplement |
| Michigan | Varies by living arrangement | No announced change | FBR plus supplement |
| Montana | Varies by living arrangement | No announced change | FBR plus supplement |
| New Jersey | Varies by living arrangement | No announced change | FBR plus supplement |
| Rhode Island | Varies by living arrangement | No announced change | FBR plus supplement |
A warning about the numbers you will see elsewhere. Many charts circulating online list Pennsylvania's supplement at roughly $541 a month and Hawaii's at roughly $617. Those are SSA administrative averages across all living arrangements, and they are pulled upward by recipients in care facilities, where the supplement covers room and board. Pennsylvania's actual maximum SSP for an individual living independently is $22.10 a month. If you live in your own apartment and you budget around $541, you will be off by more than $500. Always check the figure for your specific living arrangement.
Projected 2027 Amounts: State-Administered States
These supplements are set by state legislatures and budget processes. There is no automatic COLA on them. The 2026 figures below are approximate and should be confirmed with your state agency before you rely on them.
| State | Approx. 2026 Supplement (individual) | Adjusts With Federal COLA? |
|---|
| Alabama | $56 to $120, by category | No, set by state |
| Alaska | Up to approx. $362 (Adult Public Assistance) | No, set by state |
| Colorado | Up to approx. $663 | No, set by state |
| Connecticut | Up to approx. $564 | No, set by state |
| Florida | Varies, contact DCF | No, set by state |
| Georgia | Approx. $20 | No, set by state |
| Idaho | Up to approx. $53 | No, set by state |
| Illinois | Varies, contact IDHS | No, set by state |
| Indiana | Up to approx. $52 | No, set by state |
| Kansas | Up to approx. $20 | No, set by state |
| Kentucky | Varies, contact CHFS | No, set by state |
| Louisiana | $1 to $15 | No, set by state |
| Maine | Approx. $10 | No, set by state |
| Maryland | $52 to $666, by living arrangement | No, set by state |
| Massachusetts | Approx. $112 to $228 | No, set by state |
| Minnesota | Varies, contact DHS | No, set by state |
| Missouri | $156 to $390 | No, set by state |
| Nebraska | Varies, contact DHHS | No, set by state |
| New Hampshire | Varies, contact DHHS | No, set by state |
| New Mexico | Up to approx. $100 | No, set by state |
| New York | $87 living alone, $23 living with others | No, set by state |
| North Carolina | Up to approx. $70 | No, set by state |
| Ohio | Varies, contact ODJFS | No, set by state |
| Oklahoma | Varies, contact DHS | No, set by state |
| Oregon | Varies, contact OHA | No, set by state |
| South Carolina | Varies, contact DSS | No, set by state |
| South Dakota | $15 independent, up to approx. $791 in facility | No, set by state |
| Texas | Varies, contact HHSC | No, set by state |
| Utah | Varies, contact DWS | No, set by state |
| Virginia | Up to approx. $115 | No, set by state |
| Washington | Varies, contact DSHS | No, set by state |
| Wisconsin | Raised 10% effective May 1, 2026 | No, set by state |
| Wyoming | Approx. $20 | No, set by state |
For the full 2026 detail behind this table, including how to apply in each state, see our SSI state supplement amounts by state 2026 chart.
Why Most State Supplements Do Not Move
Wisconsin is the clearest illustration of what the pass-along rule actually permits. Wisconsin raised its SSI state supplement by 10% effective May 1, 2026. That was the first increase since 1994. For 32 years the supplement was legal, compliant with federal rules, and steadily losing value to inflation, because nothing in federal law required the state to raise it.
California is the same story told forward. The state's Legislative Analyst's Office projects the 2026-27 maximum individual grant at $1,263.94, made up of a $1,024 federal portion and a $239.94 state portion. The federal portion goes up by $30. The state portion goes up by zero. The LAO says so plainly: the projected increase is entirely due to the estimated federal COLA.
The practical takeaway is that if you want to know your 2027 check, the only figure genuinely in play is the federal COLA. Assume your state supplement stays where it is unless your state has passed something that says otherwise.
What Happens to Your Actual Check
The projected totals above are maximums. Several things can pull your real 2027 payment below them:
- Countable income. SSI subtracts most income from the benefit rate. If you also receive SSDI or Social Security retirement, that payment gets the same COLA, which raises your countable income and can shrink your SSI portion by nearly as much as the COLA added.
- Living arrangement. Living in someone else's household and receiving free food or shelter can trigger the in-kind support and maintenance reduction, which cuts the federal portion by up to one third.
- Deeming. A minor with an ineligible parent in the home, or an adult with an ineligible spouse, has part of that household member's income counted against them.
- State supplement category. Many state supplements are only paid to people in specific settings, such as adult family homes or assisted living. Living independently may mean you qualify for a much smaller supplement, or none at all.
- Resource limits, which do not move. $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple, unchanged since 1989 and not indexed to the COLA. A larger check does not let you keep more savings.
Timeline to the Official 2027 Numbers
- September 11, 2026: August CPI-W released, second of the three months that count.
- Mid-October 2026: September CPI-W released, completing the third-quarter average.
- October 14, 2026: SSA announces the official 2027 COLA and the new federal benefit rate.
- November 2026 to early 2027: States that plan to adjust their supplements do so through budget or regulatory action, on their own schedules. Some announce in December, some in the spring, some not at all.
- December 2026: SSA mails COLA notices and posts them to my Social Security accounts, showing your specific January payment.
- December 31, 2026: The January 2027 SSI payment goes out early, because January 1 is a holiday.
How to Confirm Your Own 2027 Amount
- Wait for the October 14 announcement before treating any federal figure as final. Use the low end of the range, around 3.1% to 3.2%, for conservative planning until then.
- Read your December COLA notice. It shows your exact payment, including the state supplement if SSA administers it, with your income and living arrangement already factored in.
- Call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 if you live in one of the 12 federally administered jurisdictions. They can tell you the supplement amount for your specific living arrangement.
- Contact your state agency separately if your state administers its own supplement. SSA cannot tell you what a state-run supplement will be, and state adjustments do not follow the federal announcement schedule.
- Report changes now. A move, a change in who you live with, or a change in income all affect the calculation. Reporting late creates overpayments that SSA will recover from future checks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the projected SSI state supplement for 2027?
Most state supplements are projected to stay at their 2026 amounts, because they are set by state law rather than indexed to inflation. California has already confirmed its supplement stays at $239.94 for an individual. The increase in your 2027 total check is expected to come from the federal benefit rate rising from $994 to roughly $1,025 to $1,029, based on COLA estimates of 3.1% to 3.6%.
When will the official 2027 SSI amounts be announced?
The Social Security Administration announces the 2027 COLA and the new federal benefit rate on October 14, 2026. State supplement changes, where any occur, are announced separately by each state on its own timeline.
Does the federal COLA automatically raise my state supplement?
No. Federal pass-along rules require states to maintain either their March 1983 payment levels or their total annual expenditures. Neither requires an annual increase. Wisconsin went from 1994 to 2026 without raising its supplement and remained in compliance the entire time.
Which states pay the highest SSI supplements?
Based on 2026 figures, the largest supplements are generally in Colorado, Maryland, Connecticut, California, Alaska, and the District of Columbia, though the highest amounts in several of those states are only paid to recipients in residential care settings rather than people living independently.
Will my total SSI check go up in 2027 if my state supplement stays flat?
Yes, assuming the COLA is positive. The federal portion rises for everyone. A flat state supplement means your total rises by the federal increase alone, roughly $30 to $35 a month for an individual at current estimates.
Why do published state supplement charts disagree with each other?
Because many of them report SSA administrative averages across all living arrangements rather than the maximum for a given category. Pennsylvania's average lands near $541 a month, but the maximum for an individual living independently is $22.10. Both numbers are real; they answer different questions.
Are these 2027 figures guaranteed?
No. The federal projections depend on July, August, and September 2026 inflation data that is not yet final, and the state supplement projections assume no legislative action. Any state can change its supplement at any point in its budget cycle.
Do I need to apply for the 2027 supplement separately?
If you live in California, Delaware, DC, Hawaii, Iowa, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, or Vermont, no. SSA adds it automatically. Everywhere else, the supplement is administered by a state agency, and you may need a separate application through your state's human services or Medicaid office.
The Bottom Line
The 2027 SSI state supplement picture is mostly a story about something not changing. Six states pay nothing extra and will still pay nothing extra. Twelve jurisdictions have SSA fold a fixed supplement into one check, and none have announced a 2027 change. The remaining states set their supplements through legislation that does not track inflation, which is how Wisconsin's stayed frozen for 32 years. What is moving is the federal benefit rate, projected to reach roughly $1,025 to $1,029 for an individual and $1,538 to $1,544 for a couple on a 3.2% to 3.6% COLA. The real number arrives October 14, 2026, and your personal amount arrives in your December COLA notice.
