At what age should I start receiving Social Security benefits?
Find the best age to claim Social Security benefits based on calculations and life expectancy. Should I wait or apply early?
Social Security payments will be made in January on a regular schedule, with the first checks to include cost-of-living increases for 2026.
Social Security benefits, which are paid primarily to elderly or retired beneficiaries, are typically paid on Wednesdays. According to the Social Security Administration’s calendar, payments are made on the second Wednesday of each month to beneficiaries whose birthday falls between the 1st and 10th of the month (this month, it’s January 14th).
People born between the 11th and 20th will be paid on the third Wednesday of each month (January 21st). According to the SSA calendar, those born on or after the 20th of the month are paid on the fourth Wednesday of each month (January 28th). Social Security recipients who began receiving benefits before May 1997 will receive payments on January 3.
Starting in January, your Social Security payments will increase slightly thanks to a 2.8% cost of living adjustment (COLA) increase. Payments will increase by about $56 a month on average, according to the Social Security Administration.
Social Security Payment Schedule for December 2025 and January 2026
The Social Security Administration’s 2026 Benefit Payment Calendar is available online so you can review the schedule for budgeting purposes.
Social Security retirement benefits for January 2026 will be transferred on SSA’s regular schedule.
- Wednesday, January 14th: The date of birth is from the 1st to the 10th of the month.
- Wednesday, January 21st: Birthdays are between the 11th and 20th of every month.
- Wednesday, January 28th: Birthdays from the 21st to the 31st of every month.
SSI payment schedule from January to 2026
Recipients of Supplemental Securities Income (SSI) checks will typically have their payments issued on the first business day of the month, Monday, December 1st. Because January 1, 2026 is a holiday (New Year’s Day), January’s payment was due on Wednesday, December 31, 2025. SSI checks will be mailed on the following days in 2026 according to the SSA calendar:
- Wednesday, December 31, 2025 (confirmed for January 2026)
- Friday, January 30, 2026 (confirmed for February 2026)
- Friday, February 27, 2026 (check for March 2026)
- Wednesday, April 1, 2026 (confirmed in April 2026)
- Friday, May 1, 2026 (Please check May 2026)
- Monday, June 1, 2026 (confirmed in June 2026)
- Wednesday, July 1st (confirmed July 2026)
What is Supplemental Securities Income or SSI?
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a benefit program for people age 65 or older, with limited income or assets, and who are blind or have a qualifying disability. Children with eligible disabilities are also eligible, according to the SSA website. Adults who qualify for SSI typically earn no more than $2,019 per month.
If you think you may be eligible for SSI, you can begin the application process online, in person at your local Social Security office, or by calling 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. local time on weekdays.
Mike Snyder is a national trends news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, and X, and email him at: mike snyder & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & msnider@usatoday.com.
