FRONT PORCH MONEY · Issue #1
Good morning. Here's what changed with your money this week, in four minutes.
THE BIG ONE: Your 2027 raise, in dollars
What changed: Social Security checks go up starting with the payment you get in January. On a $2,000 monthly check, that's $72 more a month. That's a 3.6% raise, announced on October 14.
The average retired worker gets about $75 more, going from $2,095 to $2,170 a month.
What it means for your check: Medicare may take a little back. The standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month this year. Medicare's trustees project it will rise to about $209.50 in 2027.
If that projection holds, $6.60 of your $72 goes to Medicare. That leaves about $65.
What to do: Nothing yet. Medicare hasn't announced the official 2027 premium. Your exact amount will be in your my Social Security Message Center in late November.
Last year's came out on November 14. We'll share the new number as soon as it's out.
Your new benefit amount will show up in your my Social Security Message Center in late November. Paper notices arrive by mail in December.
RATE WATCH
The best safe yields we found this week. The full table comes every Saturday.
Safe yield | Best this week | Where |
|---|---|---|
Online savings | Peak Bank (online), as of Oct. 16 | |
1-year CD | Barclays (online), as of Oct. 16 | |
6-month Treasury bill | TreasuryDirect or a brokerage, as of Oct. 15 | |
5-year fixed annuity | Athene (AM Best A+), on $100,000 or more, as of Oct. 18. Insurance product, not a bank deposit, not FDIC-insured. |
Savings and CD rates as of October 16, 2026; T-bill yield as of October 15, 2026; annuity rate as of October 18, 2026. Rates change often, so check before you open anything. Annuities aren't bank deposits and aren't FDIC-insured.
ONE SMART MOVE: See your new amount early, by November 18
You can see your 2027 benefit online in late November. That's up to three weeks before a paper notice would arrive.
To get it, create a my Social Security account and choose paperless notices by November 18. Type ssa.gov/myaccount into your browser yourself. Don't click a link in an email.
New benefit notices are coming, and scammers copy them. The Social Security watchdog warned of a surge in fake emails saying your statement is ready to download.
Clicking the link can install harmful software or lead to a fake site that steals your personal and bank details.
How to spot it: The sender's address doesn't end in .gov. It has a download link or attachment, and it pushes you to act now.
Social Security won't send surprise attachments or download links. It won't ask for gift cards, wire transfers or crypto, either. If you clicked, report it at ssa.gov/scam and call your bank.
ASK FRONT PORCH
A question we hear a lot: "Will the bigger raise make more of my Social Security taxable?"
It might. It depends on your "combined income." That's half your Social Security plus your other income, including tax-free interest.
If you file alone and combined income passes $25,000, up to half your benefits can be taxed. For couples filing jointly, that line is $32,000.
Those lines aren't adjusted for inflation. So each raise can push a few more people over.
If you're 65 or older, the new senior deduction can help. It's an extra $6,000 per person for tax years 2025 through 2028. It shrinks once income passes $75,000, or $150,000 for joint filers.
This is general education. A tax preparer can run your own numbers.
That's it for today. Hit reply and send us your biggest money question. We read every one.
— The Front Porch Money team
Front Porch Money isn't affiliated with Medicare, Social Security, the IRS or any government agency.
Front Porch Money is general education, not personal financial, tax, legal or investment advice. Some links are from partners who may pay us; see our disclosures.
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