Social Security paperless COLA deadline: When is the last day this month to apply for paperless notice?
Social Security beneficiaries have until November 18, 2026, to create an online account and select paperless notices if they want early access to their personalised 2027 cost-of-living adjustment information
Millions of Americans waiting to find out how much their Social Security payments will increase next year have an important date to remember this month.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has set November 18 as the deadline for beneficiaries who want to receive their 2027 COLA notice online rather than waiting for a letter through the post.
The deadline is approaching, meaning anyone who has not yet created a personal my Social Security account or enrolled in paperless communications should consider completing the process before November 18.
The SSA confirmed the date in its October 14 announcement, which revealed a 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2027.
Those who complete the registration and select digital notices in time will be able to access their personalised benefit information online from late November, potentially up to three weeks before receiving the equivalent paper notification.
Importantly, November 18 is not the deadline to receive the COLA itself or to apply for Social Security benefits. It is specifically the cutoff for beneficiaries who want early online access to their annual adjustment notice.
People who do not register for paperless communications will still receive their information. The SSA has confirmed that paper notices will be delivered during December.
How to register for paperless Social Security notices
Beneficiaries who have not previously created an online account can visit the official SSA website at ssa.gov/myaccount to begin the process.
After creating an account, users should access their profile and notification preferences, where they can select the paperless communications option. The agency's instructions require users to switch the setting on, review the authorisation agreement and confirm their selection.
People who already have a my Social Security account should also check their preferences to make sure they are enrolled in paperless notices. Simply having an account does not necessarily mean that someone has selected digital delivery.
The SSA's online Message Center provides a secure location for receiving important documents, including annual COLA notifications. Users can also choose to receive email or text alerts when a new message becomes available.
The agency says the simplified, one-page notice will provide personalised information, including the exact amount of an individual's new benefit and any applicable deductions.
How much will Social Security payments increase in 2027?
The deadline comes after the SSA confirmed that benefits will increase by 3.6% next year, providing a boost to approximately 76 million Americans receiving Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
According to the agency, the average retirement benefit will increase by approximately $75 per month. However, the actual amount individuals receive will depend on their existing benefit payment.
Nearly 72 million Social Security beneficiaries will begin receiving the higher payments in January 2027. Meanwhile, approximately 7.3 million SSI recipients will see their increased payments begin on December 31, 2026. Some Americans receive both types of assistance.
The COLA is designed to help benefits keep pace with rising living costs and is calculated using changes in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers.
For beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare , the online notice will also help them understand their updated payment after relevant deductions. Information about Medicare's 2027 changes will be available separately through Medicare.gov.
Those who miss the November 18 deadline will not lose their COLA increase or their right to receive the information. They will simply have to wait for the paper notification, which the SSA says will arrive in December.
With the deadline now less than two weeks away, beneficiaries who prefer digital access should make sure their accounts and communication preferences are correctly set up before November 18.
