Overview
- January’s first disbursements started with SSI on Dec. 31, 2025, followed by payments on Jan. 2, Jan. 14, Jan. 21, and Jan. 28, 2026.
- The 2.8% cost‑of‑living adjustment is now applied to 2026 benefits, reflecting the SSA’s CPI‑W methodology.
- For retired workers, the average monthly benefit rises by about $56 to $2,071, the maximum Social Security payment climbs to $5,251, and the SSI individual maximum reaches $994.
- Payments are timed by birth date for most beneficiaries, with a separate schedule for those who began benefits before May 1997 and an early SSI payout when the first falls on a holiday.
- The SSA pays roughly 70–74 million people each month, and analysts continue to warn of possible shortfalls by the early 2030s without congressional action.