Massachusetts retirees will see some of the nation’s biggest boosts to their Social Security checks next year, according to an analysis published Sunday.
While the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) applies the same percentage increase to recipients nationwide, higher base payments in the commonwealth mean residents will secure a larger bump in actual dollars, according to financial company The Motley Fool.
As of December 2025, the median Social Security benefit for retired workers in Massachusetts was $2,121. That put the Bay State in ninth place in a national ranking of states with the highest median retirement payments, the company reported.
The Senior Citizens League estimates the 2027 COLA will land at 3.5%. The Social Security Administration will officially announce the rate on Oct. 14, shortly after the U.S. Labor Department releases September inflation data.
The annual adjustment is tied to a specific inflation metric known as the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers.
The government compares third-quarter inflation data against the previous year to determine the uniform percentage increase applied to all benefits.
The agency then multiplies current benefit amounts by the adjustment rate, rounding down to the next dime, according to the financial publication.
Because benefits are calculated using a worker’s lifetime earnings and the age they initially claim them, states with higher average incomes produce higher Social Security payouts, the report noted.
Massachusetts consistently ranks among the top 10 states for highest median income, a factor that directly correlates with its larger monthly retirement checks.
Here is a complete list of the top 10 states with the highest median Social Security benefits for retired workers as of December 2025:
- New Jersey: $2,256
- Connecticut: $2,249
- Delaware: $2,225
- New Hampshire: $2,215
- Maryland: $2,181
- Washington: $2,144
- Michigan: $2,139
- Minnesota: $2,135
- Massachusetts: $2,121
- Utah: $2,090
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