Overview
- Payments for beneficiaries with birthdays on the 11th through 20th are scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 15, with another round later in October for those born on the 21st through 31st.
- The Social Security Administration will use the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ September Consumer Price Index release on Oct. 24 to calculate and announce the 2026 cost-of-living adjustment.
- Benefits will be updated to reflect the 2026 COLA starting Jan. 1, 2026, and the agency says there will be no delay to adjustments.
- Monthly benefit maximums vary by claiming age: up to $2,831 at 62, $4,018 at full retirement age (67), and $5,108 at 70, while the average retired-worker benefit in August 2025 was $2,008.31.
- People who claimed early may withdraw and repay within 12 months to reset their filing or suspend at full retirement age to earn roughly 8% per year in delayed credits until 70.