Social Security in Tennessee: 2027 COLA, Average Benefit, SSI & Taxes
Tennessee by the numbers
| Measure | Tennessee |
|---|---|
| Average retired-worker benefit (Dec 2024) | $1,958/mo |
| Estimated 2027 average after the 3.6% COLA | about $2,028/mo |
| Rank by average benefit (50 states + DC) | #31 of 51 |
| Retired workers receiving benefits | 1,135,346 |
| All Social Security beneficiaries in Tennessee | 1,564,675 |
| Total benefits paid in Tennessee, 2024 (all programs) | $33.3 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 Tennessee
Tennessee pays no SSI supplement. Your SSI in Tennessee is the federal payment only — up to $1,029 a month for an individual in 2027 ($1,544 for a couple). There is no state application, because there is no state program. The full 50-state comparison is 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 Tennessee tax Social Security benefits?
No. Tennessee has no broad state income tax, so Social Security benefits are not taxed at the state level. (Federal taxation can still apply — up to 85% of benefits, based on combined income.)
Good to know in Tennessee
Tennessee pays only the small mandatory pass-along supplements required for grandfathered cases from the 1970s conversion to SSI; it runs no general optional supplement program.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average Social Security benefit in Tennessee?
$1,958 a month for a retired worker, from the SSA's December 2024 data — ranked #31 of the 50 states and DC. With the 3.6% COLA the 2027 average is about $2,028. An average reflects a lifetime of earnings and claiming ages in the state; your own amount depends on your record.
Does Tennessee tax Social Security benefits?
No. Tennessee has no broad state income tax, so benefits are not taxed by the state.
Does Tennessee add a supplement to SSI?
No. Tennessee is one of six states with no SSI supplement, so the federal maximum — $1,029 a month for an individual in 2027 — is the full payment.
When does the 2027 COLA arrive in Tennessee?
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); Tennessee revenue-department rules as published for the most recent tax year. Benefit figures are estimates; your SSA notice is the official amount.