Social Security in District of Columbia: 2027 COLA, Average Benefit, SSI & Taxes
District of Columbia by the numbers
| Measure | District of Columbia |
|---|---|
| Average retired-worker benefit (Dec 2024) | $2,000/mo |
| Estimated 2027 average after the 3.6% COLA | about $2,072/mo |
| Rank by average benefit (50 states + DC) | #24 of 51 |
| Retired workers receiving benefits | 64,753 |
| All Social Security beneficiaries in District of Columbia | 85,682 |
| Total benefits paid in District of Columbia, 2024 (all programs) | $1.8 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.
Calculate your 2027 increase
Enter your current check — we apply the official 3.6% COLA and show your new amount instantly.
SSI in District of Columbia
Administered by the Social Security Administration. District of Columbia'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 District of Columbia; 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 District of Columbia tax Social Security benefits?
No. The District of Columbia does not tax Social Security benefits; they are exempt from the District's 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 District of Columbia?
$2,000 a month for a retired worker, from the SSA's December 2024 data — ranked #24 of the 50 states and DC. With the 3.6% COLA the 2027 average is about $2,072. An average reflects a lifetime of earnings and claiming ages in the state; your own amount depends on your record.
Does District of Columbia tax Social Security benefits?
No. District of Columbia fully exempts Social Security benefits from its state income tax.
Does District of Columbia add a supplement to SSI?
Only for certain residential care arrangements. Recipients living independently in District of Columbia receive the federal payment only; the state supplement pays in qualifying care settings.
When does the 2027 COLA arrive in District of Columbia?
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); District of Columbia revenue-department rules as published for the most recent tax year. Benefit figures are estimates; your SSA notice is the official amount.