Overview
- January retirement checks arrive on Jan. 14, 21, and 28 based on birth dates, with Wednesday payments continuing through 2026.
- Beneficiaries who started before May 1997 are paid on Jan. 3, and those receiving both Social Security and SSI follow the 3rd and 1st of the month schedule.
- SSI’s January payment was issued Dec. 31 with new maximums of $994 for individuals and $1,491 for couples, reflecting the 2.8% adjustment.
- The COLA lifts the average monthly Social Security benefit to about $2,071, with nearly 71 million receiving Social Security and 7.4 million receiving SSI.
- Medicare Part B’s standard premium rises to $202.90 in 2026, and the maximum retirement benefit increases to $4,152 at full retirement age and $5,251 at age 70.