Social Security in California: 2027 COLA, Average Benefit, SSI & Taxes
California by the numbers
| Measure | California |
|---|---|
| Average retired-worker benefit (Dec 2024) | $1,935/mo |
| Estimated 2027 average after the 3.6% COLA | about $2,005/mo |
| Rank by average benefit (50 states + DC) | #34 of 51 |
| Retired workers receiving benefits | 5,120,435 |
| All Social Security beneficiaries in California | 6,544,000 |
| Total benefits paid in California, 2024 (all programs) | $137.9 billion |
Source: SSA Annual Statistical Supplement 2025, Tables 5.J1, 5.J2 and 5.J4 (December 2024). The average is total retired-worker benefits divided by the number of retired workers; the 2027 figure applies the 3.6% COLA to that average and is an estimate — individual benefits vary widely around it. National comparison and every other state: Social Security by state.
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SSI in California
Administered by the Social Security Administration. California's supplement is federally administered, so it arrives in the same payment as your federal SSI — no separate application and no separate check.
Standard supplement: $239.94 a month for an individual living independently — the blind rate is $324.32 and the couple rate is $607.83 — the largest standard supplement in the country. Added to the 2027 federal maximum, the top combined SSI payment in California is $1,268.94 for an individual with no other income. Amounts for residential care and other living arrangements differ; the basis and the other states are on the SSI state supplements page.
The federal part is the same everywhere: a 2027 maximum of $1,029 (individual) / $1,544 (couple), first increased payment December 31, 2026. Federal amounts by living arrangement are on the SSI calculator and dates on the SSI payment schedule.
Does California tax Social Security benefits?
No. California does not tax Social Security benefits — they are fully exempt from the state income tax. (Federal taxation can still apply — up to 85% of benefits, based on combined income.)
Frequently asked questions
What is the average Social Security benefit in California?
$1,935 a month for a retired worker, from the SSA's December 2024 data — ranked #34 of the 50 states and DC. With the 3.6% COLA the 2027 average is about $2,005. An average reflects a lifetime of earnings and claiming ages in the state; your own amount depends on your record.
Does California tax Social Security benefits?
No. California fully exempts Social Security benefits from its state income tax.
Does California add a supplement to SSI?
Yes. The supplement is administered by the SSA and paid inside the same check. The standard amount for an individual living independently is $239.94 a month.
When does the 2027 COLA arrive in California?
On the same federal schedule as everywhere else — the COLA does not vary by state. SSI's first increased payment arrives December 31, 2026, and Social Security's January 2027 payments arrive on the usual birth-date Wednesdays (January 13, 20 and 27), with exact amounts in your December COLA notice.
Sources: SSA Annual Statistical Supplement 2025 (§5.J state tables); SSA SSI state supplementation tables and A Guide to SSI for Groups and Organizations (Jan 2026); California revenue-department rules as published for the most recent tax year. Benefit figures are estimates; your SSA notice is the official amount.