It’s known that Social Security is one of the most important income sources for millions of people in the U.S. It helps retirees, disabled people, survivors, and low-income beneficiaries cover basic expenses like food, housing, and medical services.
However, the year 2026 means payment changes for many people. This is not very clear, which is why we are here to tell you all about it. So, let’s get started.
Higher Social Security payments in 2026
The main change for 2026 is that Social Security payments will increase. This happens because of something called cost of living adjustment (COLA), which exists to help people deal with inflation. What’s inflation? It means that prices are higher with the passage of time: food, gasoline, rent, medical services are more expensive. When prices rise, the same amount of money doesn’t go as far as it used to, so to avoid beneficiaries losing their purchasing power Social Security adjusts payments every year.
By 2026, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced a 2.8% increment, which will benefit about 75 million people (including those who receive Social Security and those who receive the Supplementary Security Income (SSI).
Who and when?
Not every beneficiary receives the increment at the same time, but all the groups included will receive more money.
People receiving SSI will see that increment first. Nearly 7.5 million SSI beneficiaries will receive their higher payment on December 31, which is the last payment of 2025. This happens because the SSI is normally sent on the first day of the month, but January 1 coincides with federal holiday. That’s why the payment will arrive earlier.
For someone receiving SSI, the monthly payment goes from $967 in 2025 to $994 in 2026. For couples receiving SSI, the monthly payment goes from $1,450 to $1,491.
What’s more, almost 71 million other Americans who receive Social Security benefits will start seeing the 2.8% increment from January 2026.
How much?
The increment will also affect retirees or people who are about to retire. Someone who retires at FRA (full retirement age) could receive up to $4,152 per month, which is more than the $4,018 paid in 2025.
People who wait until turning 70 years old to retire receive the highest payment possible. In 2025, the maximum payment was $5,108 per month, but, with the new adjustment, the maximum amount for 2026 is $5,251 per month.
The SSA shared the average figures for January:
- Retired workers will receive about $2,071 per month, up from $2,015.
- Married couples who both receive benefits will get around $3,208 per month.
- Widowed mothers with two children will receive approximately $3,898 per month.
Payment dates
Social Security payments don’t arrive the same day for everybody because the date depends on the birth date. So, if you receive Social Security (not SSI), the payments were sent on Wednesdays:
- People born from the 1st to the 10th get paid on the second Wednesday of the month.
- People born from the 11th to the 20th get paid on the third Wednesday.
- People born from the 21st to the 31st get paid on the fourth Wednesday.
For January 2026, payments will arrive on:
- January 14 (birthdays 1–10).
- January 21 (birthdays 11–20).
- January 28 (birthdays 21–31).
Have in mind that the SSI payment for February will be sent on January 30, since February 1 is the weekend.
What this means for you
If you receive Social Security or SSI, these changes mean a bit more money every month to help you face the higher cost of living. Even though the increment is not a lot, it’s thought to relieve part of the economic pressure many people feel. So, knowing how much money and when you will receive it allows you to better plan your expenses and avoid any surprises.