Summary
Some Social Security recipients in the United States are receiving increased payments this week thanks to a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2026. The adjustment aims to help with rising living costs, and payment schedules vary based on when recipients started receiving benefits and other factors.
Key Facts
- The Social Security Administration (SSA) sends monthly benefits to around 70 million Americans, including retirees and people with disabilities.
- A 2.8% cost-of-living increase will be applied to 2026 benefits, resulting in higher payments for recipients.
- Payments are scheduled based on birth dates and other criteria, with SSI recipients receiving their payment on December 31 and some early beneficiaries on January 2.
- The COLA is calculated using the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).
- The average monthly benefit for retirees is expected to rise from $2,015 to $2,071.
- The maximum monthly Social Security payment will increase from $5,108 to $5,251.
- For SSI recipients, the maximum individual payment will rise from $967 to $994 monthly.
- Payments in January will be made on December 31, January 2, January 14, January 21, and January 28, depending on various conditions.
