You probably don’t plan your week around federal rule changes, but your bank account might. Social Security is set for several updates that will affect how benefits arrive and how much some workers pay in. If you live in Tennessee, this is about more than abstract policy – it affects people you know. In 2022, about 1.52 million people in the state received Social Security benefits, so chances are you or someone close to you will feel these changes.
Think of this as your plain-English guide, with just enough detail to avoid surprises at the ATM. We keep the jargon to a minimum, add a little gentle humor where red tape shows up, and focus on what you can do now. Ready to see what’s confirmed, what’s pending, and which dates to circle?
What is officially confirmed for 2026, and what is still pending?
Two things are clear. First, paper checks for federal benefits are being phased out nationally. A March 25, 2025 executive order directs Treasury to stop issuing paper checks for federal disbursements by September 30, 2025, with limited exceptions allowed by law. SSA has echoed that message to beneficiaries. In practice, that means 2026 will be fully electronic for Social Security payments unless you qualify for a legal exception.
Second, the 2026 cost‑of‑living adjustment will be announced in October 2025 after the inflation data SSA uses is published. BLS currently schedules the September 2025 CPI release for October 24. SSA states only that it will announce the next COLA in October, so don’t lock in a day until the agencies post it.
Key dates to watch
The table below rounds up a few anchor points. It will help you avoid the classic government‑office runaround on dates.
| Event or item | When | Why it matters |
| Paper Social Security checks end for most recipients | September 30, 2025 | After this date, benefits should arrive by direct deposit or Direct Express unless you qualify for an exception under federal rules. |
| BLS releases September 2025 CPI (feeds COLA math) | October 24, 2025, 8:30 a.m. ET | SSA computes the 2026 COLA from this data, then announces the official increase. See the BLS schedule for the September 2025 CPI. |
| SSA posts 2026 COLA and related updates | October 2025 | Watch SSA’s COLA page for the official percentage. |
| 2025 taxable maximum (for context) | $176,100 | Income up to this cap is subject to the 6.2 percent Social Security tax in 2025; 2026 figure pending. |
In short, 2026 details will lock in after the late‑October data drop. Until then, SSA’s October notices are the final word.
Will there be a 2026 COLA and when will we know the amount?
Yes, there will be. COLA stands for cost‑of‑living adjustment, which is the annual increase based on inflation measured by the CPI‑W index. SSA says the next COLA will be announced in October 2025, after the September inflation numbers are released. The increase takes effect for December 2025 benefits paid in January 2026. Think of it as an automatic raise that tries to keep up with prices at the grocery store and pharmacy.
So when will you see the number? Soon after the late‑October inflation data lands. One more tip. SSA’s formal budget documents sometimes include planning assumptions. For example, the agency’s FY 2026 materials used a 2.4 percent COLA assumption for internal budgeting. That’s not the official COLA; it’s simply a placeholder until the October announcement. Keep your eyes on SSA’s COLA page for the confirmed number.
Is the full retirement age changing in 2026?
No, not under current law. Full retirement age, the age at which you qualify for 100 percent of your benefit, is already 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later. You can still claim as early as 62, which reduces your monthly amount, or delay up to 70, which increases it. For 2025, SSA’s own examples show that a worker with maximum taxable earnings who claims at 62 would get 2,831 dollars monthly, at full retirement age 4,018 dollars, and at 70, 5,108 dollars. Clear rules. No new change for 2026 unless Congress acts.
If you’ve seen headlines about raising the retirement age, those are proposals, not enacted changes. SSA maintains a page that catalogs ideas under discussion, including concepts that would lift the age starting in future years. Interesting reading, yes, but not your current rulebook.
How do Social Security “work credits” change in 2026?
Work credits are the building blocks you earn to qualify for benefits. Most people need 40 credits in their lifetime. You can earn up to four per year, and each credit equals a set amount of annual earnings. In 2025, one credit equals 1,810 dollars in covered earnings, so four credits require 7,240 dollars. SSA adjusts that dollar amount each year. See how work credits are earned.
As of today, SSA has not posted the 2026 dollar value per credit. Expect the new number with the rest of SSA’s October updates. If you’re a part‑time worker or a caregiver who works intermittently, this threshold is worth watching because it determines how quickly you accumulate the credits you need. Simple, but important.
Are paper checks really ending, and how do I get paid in 2026?
Yes. Short version. Treasury’s March 25, 2025 executive order phases out paper checks for federal disbursements by September 30, 2025, with limited exceptions permitted by law. SSA has been reminding beneficiaries to switch. If you do nothing and still receive a paper check, your payment may be delayed. No one wants that.
Your two standard options are direct deposit to your bank or credit union, or the Direct Express Debit Mastercard for people without bank accounts. Direct deposit is usually the simplest, while Direct Express ensures you aren’t stuck juggling paper checks. Consider it the government’s way of admitting that the old check in the mail has too many ways to go missing.
Will some workers pay more in Social Security tax in 2026?
Possibly. Social Security payroll tax applies to wages up to a yearly cap known as the “taxable maximum.” That cap typically rises when the national average wage index rises. For 2025, the taxable maximum is 176,100 dollars, and workers and employers each pay 6.2 percent on earnings up to that amount. SSA has not yet posted the 2026 cap. If it increases, high earners will pay more next year. Learn more about the taxable maximum.
Above the cap, Social Security tax stops for the rest of the year, so someone earning 176,100 dollars and someone earning 1 million dollars pay the same Social Security tax in 2025. That feature will still apply in 2026 unless Congress changes the law. Gentle irony alert. The tax cap is one place where the government likes a hard stop.
When do Social Security and SSI payments arrive in 2025 and 2026?
Timing matters for rent and prescriptions. SSA pays retirement and disability benefits on Wednesdays based on your birthday, and pays beneficiaries who started before May 1997 on the third of the month. SSI is paid on the first of the month, with early payment when the first falls on a weekend or holiday. You can download the official 2025 and 2026 calendars for the exact dates.
As the payment system goes all‑electronic, the money shows up in your account or on your Direct Express card on the scheduled day. If a payment is late, SSA asks that you allow three additional mailing days before contacting them, a leftover line from the check era that still appears on the calendar PDFs. The bottom line for 2026 is simple. Expect your funds through an electronic method on your usual day.
How many Tennesseans are affected by the 2026 changes?
A lot. In December 2022, Tennessee had 1,516,343 people receiving Old‑Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance benefits. That statewide reach is why even small administrative changes can feel big locally.
The shift to electronic payments and the annual updates to thresholds and caps will touch recipients in every county, from Shelby to Sullivan. If you help an older family member with paperwork, now is the time to make sure their payment method is set and that they know how to check their benefit notice in October. It’s a quick win.
What should I do now to be ready for 2026?
Before we get to the list, a quick note. The steps below are meant to save you time and keep your money flowing without hiccups.
- Set up or confirm direct deposit, or enroll in Direct Express if you do not use a bank. That is the surest way to avoid any check‑related delays after September 30, 2025.
- Create or sign in to your my Social Security account to view your benefit notice in October and confirm your 2026 amount.
- If you still receive paper checks, call the Go Direct helpline at 1‑877‑874‑6347 to enroll in direct deposit or Direct Express.
- If you plan to claim benefits in 2026, use SSA’s calculators to compare filing ages and understand how early or delayed claiming affects your monthly amount.
- For working households, note the 2025 taxable maximum now and check SSA’s updates in October for any 2026 change. That helps you estimate payroll tax withholding more accurately. For 2025 details, see SSA’s fact sheet.
Once you have those items squared away, you can largely ignore the bureaucratic noise and just watch for SSA’s October mailer or online notice. That is the official document that locks in your 2026 number.
