The average spousal Social Security benefit<\/a> lags well behind the average retirement benefit. The typical retired worker received about $2,086 in July 2026, while the average spousal beneficiary received just $987 per month. These averages tick up slowly over time as new beneficiaries with higher average earnings apply, but the coming COLA will bring a much bigger jump. <\/p>\n A 3.6% boost would raise the average retirement benefit by $75 to $2,161 per month, and the average spousal benefit would climb by $36. That’s not a ton, but it is enough to push the typical monthly spousal benefit over $1,000 for the first time. <\/p>\n Of course, some people already receive spousal benefits of more than $1,000, and others still will not receive this much, even after the 2027 Social Security COLA<\/a> takes effect. It depends on the size of your current checks. <\/p>\n How to know how much you’ll get from Social Security in 2027 <\/p>\n The Social Security Administration will announce the 2027 Social Security COLA on Oct. 14, 2026. That’s the date it finally gets the last piece of inflation data necessary to run the calculation. <\/p>\n The COLA is a percentage, so you’ll have to do a bit of math to figure out how this will affect your checks next year. Multiply the COLA percentage by your current checks, and then add this amount to your existing benefit. This will give you a rough idea of what to expect. <\/p>\n The amount you receive could be slightly different, especially if you have Medicare Part B premiums taken out of your checks. These will likely increase next year as well, so that may eat into some of your COLA gains. <\/p>\n The government will send you a personalized COLA notice in December, giving the exact benefit amount you’ll receive. Wait until you’ve reviewed this before reaching out to the Social Security Administration with questions about how your benefits will change next year. <\/p>\n The\u00a0$23,760\u00a0Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook <\/p>\n If you’re like most Americans, you’re a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known\u00a0“Social Security secrets”<\/strong><\/a> could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. For example: one easy trick could pay you as much as $23,760 more<\/strong>… each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we’re all after. <\/p>\n Many Americans leave money on the table in retirement. Learn more about these retirement strategies and more, available when you join Stock Advisor. <\/p>\n View the “Social Security secrets” \u00bb<\/strong><\/a> <\/p>\n The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/a> Image source: Getty Images. The average spousal Social Security benefit will likely cross the four-figure mark in 2027 <\/p>\n