If you obtain your 2026 Social Safety cost is decided, with a number of exceptions, by your date of delivery. Nevertheless, in case you acquired Social Safety earlier than Could 1997 or are receiving each Social Safety & SSI, Social Safety is paid on the third and SSI on the first. In case your cost date falls on a federal vacation or weekend, you’ll be able to count on to obtain that month’s cost on the weekday instantly prior.
The official COLA improve has been delayed till this Friday. For now, we are able to check out 2026 COLA estimates which are based mostly on two of the three information units used to compute this crucial quantity.
After the discharge of the August CPI report, David Payne, workers economist for the Kiplinger Letter, weighed in together with his COLA estimate. “[The] CPI launch…nonetheless leaves the COLA at 2.7%. Subsequent month’s launch will decide the ultimate quantity. 2.7% is most probably, however 2.8% is feasible.”
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The Senior Residents’ League (TSCL) stored its prediction at 2.7% in August. The TSCL had raised its projection by 0.1% each month since its estimate for March, which got here in at 2.3% after being rolled again by 0.1% in February to 2.2%.
The federal government shutdown has delayed the discharge of the COLA announcement, which normally occurs on October 15. The official COLA will now be introduced on October 24.
The typical month-to-month social safety verify
In August 2025, the typical Social Safety month-to-month verify for all retirement beneficiaries was $2,008.31, in keeping with the Social Safety Administration’s Month-to-month Snapshot (SSA). If you’re fascinated by figuring out extra about SS profit funds and the way your verify measures as much as friends, check out what the typical Social Safety verify is by age.
Utilizing that quantity for illustrative functions, a COLA of two.7% in 2026 would lead to a median month-to-month improve of $54.22 or an annual common improve of $650.69.
Schedule of Social Safety profit funds in 2026
Listed here are all of the confirmed cost dates for retirees based mostly on the Social Safety cost schedule for 2026. Simply discover the day of the month you had been born on the left facet of the desk. Then, look beneath every month for the particular cost date.
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Month/Start date
1st – tenth
eleventh – twentieth
twenty first – thirty first
January
Wednesday, 14th
Wednesday, twenty first
Wednesday, twenty eighth
February
Wednesday, eleventh
Wednesday, 18th
Wednesday, twenty fifth
March
Wednesday, eleventh
Wednesday, 18th
Wednesday, twenty fifth
April
Wednesday, eighth
Wednesday, fifteenth
Wednesday, twenty second
Could
Wednesday, thirteenth
Wednesday, twentieth
Wednesday, twenty seventh
June
Wednesday, tenth
Wednesday, seventeenth
Wednesday, twenty fourth
July
Wednesday, eighth
Wednesday, fifteenth
Wednesday, twenty second
August
Wednesday, twelfth
Wednesday, nineteenth
Wednesday, twenty sixth
September
Wednesday, ninth
Wednesday, sixteenth
Wednesday, twenty third
October
Wednesday, 14th
Wednesday, 21th
Wednesday, twenty eighth
November
Tuesday, tenth
Wednesday, 18th
Wednesday, twenty fifth
December
Wednesday, ninth
Wednesday, sixteenth
Wednesday, twenty third
Why you need to have a “my Social Safety” account
You need to undoubtedly have a “my Social Safety” account. For starters, throughout a authorities shutdown, you should utilize your my Social Safety account to entry your account info with out disruption. The account may help you handle duties resembling requesting a alternative Social Safety card, receiving updates in regards to the COLA, updating your direct deposit info, and getting your Social Safety 1099 kind. And, if you’re involved about mail theft or journey typically, you’ll be able to choose out of mailed notices for these out there on-line.
