Tens of millions of Americans are about to see a slightly bigger Social Security check, and some will get that money before 2026 even begins. A new cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, will raise benefits to help cover higher prices at the grocery store and in monthly bills.
So when will that higher amount actually hit your bank account? The answer depends on whether you receive Supplemental Security Income, regular Social Security, or both, and even on your birth date, while higher Medicare costs and office changes could affect how far the raise goes.
How much your Social Security check will rise in 2026
According to the Social Security Administration, Social Security and SSI payments will rise by 2.8 percent in 2026, based on inflation, as explained in its online COLA information for 2026. That cost of living increase will affect about 75 million people nationwide.
Agency estimates, summarized in the 2026 COLA fact sheet, show the average retired worker’s check climbing from about $2,015 a month to roughly $2,071, an increase of around $56. For an older couple who both receive benefits, the typical combined payment will go from about $3,120 to $3,208.
People who qualify for federal Supplemental Security Income will also see more money. In 2026, the maximum federal SSI payment will be $994 a month for an individual and $1,491 for an eligible couple, before extra state payments are added, according to the SSI payment standards for 2026.
Who gets paid early: SSI and people with both benefits
SSI is a separate program for people with very low income and limited savings, including many with disabilities. Payments are due on the first of the month, but when that date is a weekend or holiday, the money is sent on the previous business day instead, a rule noted in an SSA frequently asked question on the 2026 COLA and in its payment calendars.
Because January 1 is a federal holiday, the first COLA-boosted SSI payment will arrive on Wednesday, December 31, 2025. For many households, that cash for January’s rent and bills might show up while the holiday lights are still on.
Another group gets an early start too. People who receive both Social Security and SSI, and those who started benefits before May 1997, are paid on the third of the month, so with January 3, 2026 falling on a Saturday, their check will arrive Friday, January 2.
January 2026 payment dates based on your birthday
Most other retirees and disability beneficiaries follow a different schedule that depends on their birthday. The 2026 payment calendar, published as the Schedule of Social Security Benefit Payments 2026, puts people born on the 1st through the 10th on the second Wednesday, the 11th through 20th on the third Wednesday, and the 21st through 31st on the fourth Wednesday.
In January 2026, that schedule turns into three key dates. People whose birthdays fall between the 1st and 10th should see their payment on Wednesday, January 14, those born between the 11th and 20th on Wednesday, January 21, and those born between the 21st and 31st on Wednesday, January 28.
If you receive benefits by direct deposit, the money appears in your account on the payment date, though timing can vary by bank. For paper checks, Social Security asks people to wait three extra mailing days before calling if a payment has not shown up.
New challenges: Medicare costs and fewer field offices
For many retirees, part of the 2026 raise will never reach their wallets because Medicare Part B premiums are taken straight out of their Social Security checks. The standard monthly Part B premium is set to rise from $185 in 2025 to about $202.90 in 2026, an increase of nearly $18.
Put side by side, that premium hike can eat up roughly one third of the average $56 Social Security raise, and costs like higher property taxes or heating bills may trim the rest. A “hold harmless” rule keeps most people’s net checks from going down, but it cannot guarantee they will feel much richer.
At the same time, the Social Security Administration is planning to shrink in person service, with an internal operating plan aiming to cut field office visits roughly in half in 2026, from more than 31 million to about 15 million. The agency wants more people to handle tasks like changing direct deposit or reviewing notices through a my Social Security account, while advocates warn this could make life harder for people who are not comfortable online, a concern raised in recent reporting by journalist Jeremy Tanner and others.
The main official information on the 2026 Social Security cost-of-living increase and payment calendar has been published by the Social Security Administration. Readers can find it on the agency’s website or through their own online account.
