Social Security in Rhode Island: 2027 COLA, Average Benefit, SSI & Taxes
Rhode Island by the numbers
| Measure | Rhode Island |
|---|---|
| Average retired-worker benefit (Dec 2024) | $2,049/mo |
| Estimated 2027 average after the 3.6% COLA | about $2,123/mo |
| Rank by average benefit (50 states + DC) | #14 of 51 |
| Retired workers receiving benefits | 183,329 |
| All Social Security beneficiaries in Rhode Island | 241,323 |
| Total benefits paid in Rhode Island, 2024 (all programs) | $5.3 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 Rhode Island
Administered by the Social Security Administration. Rhode Island'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 Rhode Island; 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 Rhode Island tax Social Security benefits?
Yes — Rhode Island is one of the eight states that still tax Social Security benefits in 2027. Rhode Island exempts benefits once you have reached full retirement age, provided your AGI is below $107,000 (single) / $133,750 (joint) — the latest published thresholds, which are adjusted for inflation each year. Above them, the federally taxable portion is taxed.
All eight states compared: states that tax Social Security benefits. Thresholds are adjusted periodically — confirm your filing-year figures with the Rhode Island revenue agency.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average Social Security benefit in Rhode Island?
$2,049 a month for a retired worker, from the SSA's December 2024 data — ranked #14 of the 50 states and DC. With the 3.6% COLA the 2027 average is about $2,123. An average reflects a lifetime of earnings and claiming ages in the state; your own amount depends on your record.
Does Rhode Island tax Social Security benefits?
Yes. Exempt at full retirement age below the AGI caps. Rhode Island exempts benefits once you have reached full retirement age, provided your AGI is below $107,000 (single) / $133,750 (joint) — the latest published thresholds, which are adjusted for inflation each year. Above them, the federally taxable portion is taxed.
Does Rhode Island add a supplement to SSI?
Only for certain residential care arrangements. Recipients living independently in Rhode Island receive the federal payment only; the state supplement pays in qualifying care settings.
When does the 2027 COLA arrive in Rhode Island?
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); Rhode Island revenue-department rules as published for the most recent tax year. Benefit figures are estimates; your SSA notice is the official amount.