Overview
- Supplemental Security Income recipients receive their January payment on Wednesday, Dec. 31, followed Friday, Jan. 2 by Social Security payments to people who began benefits before May 1997 or who also receive SSI.
- Regular January payments resume on a staggered schedule: Jan. 14 for birthdays on the 1st–10th, Jan. 21 for the 11th–20th, and Jan. 28 for the 21st–31st.
- The 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment raises the typical retired-worker benefit by roughly $56 per month, bringing the average to about $2,071.
- The maximum monthly Social Security benefit rises to $5,251, while SSI maximums increase to $994 for individuals, $1,491 for couples, and $498 for essential caregivers.
- COLA is based on third‑quarter CPI‑W data, and the SSA advises allowing up to three working days for payments to post before contacting the agency.