Overview
- Retirees born on the 1st–10th receive December checks on Wednesday, Dec. 10, with later waves on Dec. 17 and Dec. 24 based on birth dates.
- Benefits rise by 2.8% in January 2026, adding about $56 to the average monthly check, according to the Social Security Administration.
- Supplemental Security Income for January is paid on Dec. 31 because Jan. 1 is a holiday, making SSI recipients the first to see the 2026 adjustment.
- Seventy-seven percent of Americans age 50 and over say the 2026 increase is not enough to keep up with costs, an AARP survey found.
- Reported increases in Medicare Part B premiums will blunt gains, and dollar changes vary by state, with several Northeastern states projected to see the largest boosts.