2026 benefit numbers
Every figure on this site comes from this table. Each one links to the government page it was checked against.
Other years: 2027
Retirement, spouse and survivor benefits
| Item | 2026 | 2027 | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) effective January | 2.8% | Not yet published | www.ssa.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Maximum earnings taxed for Social Security | $184,500 | Not yet published | www.ssa.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Earnings needed for one work credit | $1,890 | Not yet published | www.ssa.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Earnings limit before full retirement age (per year) | $24,480 | Not yet published | www.ssa.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Earnings limit before full retirement age (per month) | $2,040 | Not yet published | www.ssa.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Earnings limit in the year you reach full retirement age | $65,160 | Not yet published | www.ssa.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Earnings limit in the year you reach full retirement age (per month) | $5,430 | Not yet published | www.ssa.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| First bend point in the benefit formula | $1,286 | Not yet published | www.ssa.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Second bend point in the benefit formula | $7,749 | Not yet published | www.ssa.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Maximum benefit for a worker retiring at full retirement age | $4,152 | Not yet published | www.ssa.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Average monthly benefit, retired worker (January) | $2,071 | Not yet published | www.ssa.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Average monthly benefit, aged couple both receiving (January) | $3,208 | Not yet published | www.ssa.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Substantial gainful activity, non-blind | $1,690 | Not yet published | www.ssa.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Substantial gainful activity, blind | $2,830 | Not yet published | www.ssa.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| One-time death payment | $255 | $255 | www.ssa.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Delayed retirement credit per year after full retirement age | 8% | 8% | www.ssa.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Survivor benefit at age 60, as share of the late worker’s benefit | 71.5% | 71.5% | www.ssa.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Work credits needed for retirement benefits | 40 | 40 | www.ssa.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Combined income above which up to 50% of benefits are taxable, single | $25,000 | $25,000 | www.ssa.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Combined income above which up to 50% of benefits are taxable, joint | $32,000 | $32,000 | www.ssa.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Combined income above which up to 85% of benefits are taxable, single | $34,000 | $34,000 | www.ssa.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Combined income above which up to 85% of benefits are taxable, joint | $44,000 | $44,000 | www.ssa.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
Supplemental Security Income
| Item | 2026 | 2027 | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| SSI federal payment, individual | $994 | Not yet published | www.ssa.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| SSI federal payment, couple | $1,491 | Not yet published | www.ssa.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| SSI essential person increment | $498 | Not yet published | www.ssa.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| SSI resource limit, individual | $2,000 | $2,000 | www.ssa.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| SSI resource limit, couple | $3,000 | $3,000 | www.ssa.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| General income exclusion | $20 | $20 | secure.ssa.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Earned income exclusion (plus half of the rest) | $65 | $65 | www.ssa.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
Medicare Parts A and B, Medigap
| Item | 2026 | 2027 | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part B standard monthly premium | $202.90 | Not yet published | www.cms.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Part B yearly deductible | $283 | Not yet published | www.cms.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Part A hospital deductible per benefit period | $1,736 | Not yet published | www.cms.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Part A hospital coinsurance, days 61-90 | $434 | Not yet published | www.cms.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Part A lifetime reserve days coinsurance | $868 | Not yet published | www.cms.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Skilled nursing facility coinsurance, days 21-100 | $217 | Not yet published | www.cms.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Part A premium, 30-39 work quarters | $311 | Not yet published | www.cms.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Part A premium, fewer than 30 work quarters | $565 | Not yet published | www.cms.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Medigap high-deductible Plan F/G deductible | $2,950 | $3,050 | www.cms.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
Higher-income premium amounts (IRMAA)
| Item | 2026 | 2027 | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRMAA tier 1 upper income limit, single | $109,000 | Not yet published | www.cms.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| IRMAA tier 1 upper income limit, joint | $218,000 | Not yet published | www.cms.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Part B premium in IRMAA tier 1 | $202.90 | Not yet published | www.cms.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Part D income-related amount in tier 1 | $0 | Not yet published | www.cms.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| IRMAA tier 2 upper income limit, single | $137,000 | Not yet published | www.cms.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| IRMAA tier 2 upper income limit, joint | $274,000 | Not yet published | www.cms.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Part B premium in IRMAA tier 2 | $284.10 | Not yet published | www.cms.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Part D income-related amount in tier 2 | $14.50 | Not yet published | www.cms.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| IRMAA tier 3 upper income limit, single | $171,000 | Not yet published | www.cms.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| IRMAA tier 3 upper income limit, joint | $342,000 | Not yet published | www.cms.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Part B premium in IRMAA tier 3 | $405.80 | Not yet published | www.cms.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Part D income-related amount in tier 3 | $37.50 | Not yet published | www.cms.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| IRMAA tier 4 upper income limit, single | $205,000 | Not yet published | www.cms.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| IRMAA tier 4 upper income limit, joint | $410,000 | Not yet published | www.cms.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Part B premium in IRMAA tier 4 | $527.50 | Not yet published | www.cms.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Part D income-related amount in tier 4 | $60.40 | Not yet published | www.cms.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| IRMAA tier 5 upper income limit, single | $500,000 | Not yet published | www.cms.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| IRMAA tier 5 upper income limit, joint | $750,000 | Not yet published | www.cms.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Part B premium in IRMAA tier 5 | $649.20 | Not yet published | www.cms.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Part D income-related amount in tier 5 | $83.30 | Not yet published | www.cms.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Part B premium in IRMAA tier 6 | $689.90 | Not yet published | www.cms.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Part D income-related amount in tier 6 | $91 | Not yet published | www.cms.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
Medicare drug coverage (Part D)
| Item | 2026 | 2027 | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part D maximum deductible | $615 | $700 | www.medicare.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Part D yearly out-of-pocket cap | $2,100 | $2,400 | www.medicare.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Part D base beneficiary premium | $38.99 | $41.33 | www.cms.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Part D late penalty per month without coverage (of base premium) | 1% | 1% | www.medicare.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Most you pay for a month of covered insulin | $35 | $35 | www.medicare.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
Extra Help with drug costs
| Item | 2026 | 2027 | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extra Help income limit (share of poverty guideline) | 150% | 150% | secure.ssa.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Extra Help income limit, individual (48 states and DC) | $23,940 | Not yet published | secure.ssa.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Extra Help income limit, couple (48 states and DC) | $32,460 | Not yet published | secure.ssa.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Extra Help resource limit, individual (with burial allowance) | $18,090 | Not yet published | www.cms.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Extra Help resource limit, couple (with burial allowance) | $36,100 | Not yet published | www.cms.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Extra Help resource limit, individual (without burial allowance) | $16,590 | Not yet published | www.cms.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Extra Help resource limit, couple (without burial allowance) | $33,100 | Not yet published | www.cms.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Extra Help maximum copay, generic drugs | $5.10 | $5.80 | www.cms.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Extra Help maximum copay, brand-name drugs | $12.65 | $14.40 | www.cms.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
Medicare Savings Programs (federal minimum)
| Item | 2026 | 2027 | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| QMB income limit (share of poverty guideline) | 100% | 100% | www.medicare.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| SLMB income limit (share of poverty guideline) | 120% | 120% | www.medicare.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| QI income limit (share of poverty guideline) | 135% | 135% | www.medicare.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| QMB monthly income limit, individual | $1,350 | Not yet published | www.medicare.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| QMB monthly income limit, couple | $1,824 | Not yet published | www.medicare.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| SLMB monthly income limit, individual | $1,616 | Not yet published | www.medicare.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| SLMB monthly income limit, couple | $2,184 | Not yet published | www.medicare.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| QI monthly income limit, individual | $1,816 | Not yet published | www.medicare.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| QI monthly income limit, couple | $2,455 | Not yet published | www.medicare.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Medicare Savings Program resource limit, individual | $9,950 | Not yet published | www.medicare.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Medicare Savings Program resource limit, couple | $14,910 | Not yet published | www.medicare.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
Federal poverty guidelines
| Item | 2026 | 2027 | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty guideline, 1 person, 48 states and DC | $15,960 | Not yet published | www.federalregister.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Poverty guideline, each added person, 48 states and DC | $5,680 | Not yet published | www.federalregister.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Poverty guideline, 1 person, Alaska | $19,950 | Not yet published | www.federalregister.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Poverty guideline, each added person, Alaska | $7,100 | Not yet published | www.federalregister.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Poverty guideline, 1 person, Hawaii | $18,360 | Not yet published | www.federalregister.gov checked 2026-10-12 |
| Poverty guideline, each added person, Hawaii | $6,530 | Not yet published | www.federalregister.gov checked 2026-10-12 |