Millions of Americans will receive a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to their Social Security benefits, but a revised calendar means not everyone will see the raise at the same time. A smaller group will get their increased checks on December 31, while most will wait until January.
The Social Security Administration has approved a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment for 2026, slightly above the 2.5% boost in 2025, to help retirees and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries cope with rising prices.
How the updated Social Security calendar splits beneficiaries into two groups
The 2.8% adjustment is based on 2025 inflation but applies to 2026 benefits.
Because payment dates are shifted when they fall on weekends or federal holidays, some checks move into late December while others stay on their normal January dates.
Who will see their higher Supplemental Security Income payment arrive December 31
Recipients of Supplemental Security Income are the first to benefit from the new COLA. Their increased payment will be issued on December 31 because January 1 is a federal holiday and benefits must go out on the nearest prior business day.
Does this mean an extra check for SSI recipients? No. It is simply the January 2026 payment arriving early.
Most retirement and disability beneficiaries must wait until January for their raise
Americans receiving retirement, survivor, or disability benefits will see their checks in January 2026, following the Wednesday schedule tied to birthdays:
- Birthdays on the 1st–10th: paid the second Wednesday.
- Birthdays on the 11th–20th: paid the third Wednesday.
- Birthdays on the 21st–31st: paid the fourth Wednesday.
Many beneficiaries will not see their larger deposit until mid or late January.
What the 2.8% COLA means for monthly Social Security checks
The 2.8% COLA means that an average beneficiary receiving under $2,008 per month will get about $56 more each month starting with their first 2026 payment. SSI recipients will also see their maximum federal amounts rise:
| Beneficiary type | Previous maximum monthly amount | 2026 maximum monthly amount |
| Individual SSI | $967 | $994 |
| Couple SSI | $1,450 | $1,491 |
Actual payments depend on income and disability status, so not everyone will get the maximum or the same increase.
Advocacy groups argue that even this raise does not fully reflect the real cost of aging. “The 2026 COLA is going to hurt for seniors.
Year after year, they warn that Social Security’s meager increases won’t be enough, and the Census Bureau estimates that about 10% of retirement-age Americans live in poverty,” wrote Shannon Benton, executive director of The Senior Citizens League.
The group says the current formula, based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, misses retiree costs and urges switching to the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly or guaranteeing at least a 3% adjustment in low‑inflation years.
