A $56 monthly bump is landing for millions, and Social Security is already shaping household budgets for 2026. The annual adjustment is modest, but the calendar matters just as much as the percentage this year.
With a 2.8% cost-of-living increase locked in, Social Security payments will rise starting in January. For many retirees and SSI recipients, knowing when the money hits is now as important as knowing how much.
Social Security Administration and the 2026 payment picture
The 2.8% COLA approved for 2026 translates into an average increase of about $56 per month. It applies to retirement, survivor, and disability benefits, as well as Supplemental Security Income. Roughly 75 million people across the U.S. are expected to receive some form of Social Security or SSI payment this year. That scale is why even small calendar shifts can cause confusion.
The agency keeps the same basic payment structure, but holidays and weekends push several deposits forward. That’s where most of the changes show up.
How regular Social Security payments are scheduled
If you began receiving Social Security after May 1997, your payment date depends on your birthday. The system hasn’t changed, but the 2026 calendar creates a few earlier-than-usual deposits. People born from the 1st through the 10th of the month are paid on the second Wednesday. Birthdays from the 11th to the 20th fall on the third Wednesday, and those from the 21st to the 31st are paid on the fourth Wednesday.
In 2026, that translates into the following pattern across the year, with some months shifting due to federal holidays or weekends.
- January: 14, 21, or 28
- February: 11, 18, or 25
- March: 11, 18, or 25
- April: 8, 15, or 22
- May: 13, 20, or 27
- June: 10, 17, or 24
- July: 8, 15, or 22
- August: 12, 19, or 26
- September: 9, 16, or 23
- October: 14, 21, or 28
- November: 10, 18, or 25
- December: 9, 16, or 23
November stands out because Veterans Day falls on Nov. 11, moving some payments slightly earlier.
Different rules for early beneficiaries and SSI recipients
Anyone who started receiving Social Security before May 1997 follows a different schedule. In those cases, benefits are paid on the 3rd of each month.
People who receive both Social Security and SSI also fall under that rule, with Social Security paid on the 3rd and SSI on the 1st. SSI has its own quirks because payments never go out on weekends or federal holidays. When that happens, deposits arrive early, sometimes creating two payments in one month and none in the next.
SSI calendar changes that matter in 2026
Several SSI payments will be issued earlier than expected this year. That doesn’t mean extra money, but it can feel that way if you’re not watching the calendar closely. February’s SSI payment arrives on Jan. 30, since Feb. 1 is a Sunday. March’s payment moves to Feb. 27, leaving no SSI deposit in March itself. The same thing happens later in the year. August’s payment is sent on July 31, and November’s arrives on Oct. 30. In both cases, there will be no SSI payment during the named month.
One more shift is already set up for the future. The January 2027 SSI payment will be made on Dec. 31, 2026, because Jan. 1 is a federal holiday.
For people living month to month, timing is everything. A payment arriving a few days early can help with bills, but a month with no deposit can create stress if it’s unexpected. The takeaway for 2026 is simple: the increase is real, the dates are mostly predictable, and checking your specific payment schedule is essential. With Social Security, the details are never just administrative. They’re personal.