Social Security in Delaware: 2027 COLA, Average Benefit, SSI & Taxes
Delaware by the numbers
| Measure | Delaware |
|---|---|
| Average retired-worker benefit (Dec 2024) | $2,170/mo |
| Estimated 2027 average after the 3.6% COLA | about $2,248/mo |
| Rank by average benefit (50 states + DC) | #4 of 51 |
| Retired workers receiving benefits | 198,391 |
| All Social Security beneficiaries in Delaware | 248,565 |
| Total benefits paid in Delaware, 2024 (all programs) | $5.9 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 Delaware
Administered by the Social Security Administration. Delaware'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 for independent living: $0. SSA's published combined-payment table shows the federal amount only for recipients living independently in Delaware; the state's supplement pays for certain residential or domiciliary care arrangements instead. If you live in a qualifying care setting, ask the SSA or the state agency which amount applies.
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 Delaware tax Social Security benefits?
No. Delaware 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 Delaware?
$2,170 a month for a retired worker, from the SSA's December 2024 data — ranked #4 of the 50 states and DC. With the 3.6% COLA the 2027 average is about $2,248. An average reflects a lifetime of earnings and claiming ages in the state; your own amount depends on your record.
Does Delaware tax Social Security benefits?
No. Delaware fully exempts Social Security benefits from its state income tax.
Does Delaware add a supplement to SSI?
Only for certain residential care arrangements. Recipients living independently in Delaware receive the federal payment only; the state supplement pays in qualifying care settings.
When does the 2027 COLA arrive in Delaware?
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); Delaware revenue-department rules as published for the most recent tax year. Benefit figures are estimates; your SSA notice is the official amount.