Overview
- Nearly 7.5 million SSI recipients will receive their COLA-adjusted deposit on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, according to the SSA.
- The 2026 cost-of-living adjustment is 2.8%, raising maximum federal SSI amounts to $994 for individuals, $1,491 for couples, and $498 for essential persons.
- Retirement, survivor and disability beneficiaries will see the COLA reflected in January 2026 on the standard Wednesday schedule of Jan. 14, Jan. 21, and Jan. 28, based on birthdate.
- SSI is typically paid on the first of the month, but the SSA moves it to the last weekday of the prior month when the first falls on a weekend or a federal holiday.
- About 74 million people receive Social Security benefits and roughly 7–7.5 million receive SSI, highlighting the broad reach of the adjustment and scheduling change.