Overview
- Retirement benefits pay on Dec. 10, 17, and 24 based on birthdate under the SSA’s Wednesday schedule.
- SSI recipients receive deposits on Dec. 1 and Dec. 31, with the Dec. 31 payment serving as January’s check.
- The 2.8% COLA for 2026 takes effect with the Dec. 31 SSI payment, lifting average retiree benefits by about $56 a month starting in January.
- The House approved bills to rename claiming-age milestones, require a single point of contact for identity-theft victims, and allow new Social Security numbers for children under 14; the Senate now considers them.
- Claiming choices shape payouts: waiting until 70 yields the maximum monthly benefit, with current caps near $2,831 at 62 versus $5,108 at 70, and many retirees work while collecting.