A round of Social Security payments will be made this week for millions of beneficiaries.
Why It Matters
More than 70 million Americans depend on Social Security each month for essential income, including retirement, disability, and survivor benefits. Given the scale of the program, the Social Security Administration (SSA) spreads payments throughout the month.
What To Know
Payment dates are staggered throughout the month for Social Security recipients, with most being paid according to their birthday.
On Wednesday, January 21, payments for those born between the 11th and 20th of any month will be issued.
If a Social Security payment does not arrive as scheduled, beneficiaries are encouraged to allow up to three business days before reaching out to the Social Security Administration.
How Much Social Security Can I Get?
Retirement benefits are determined by your lifetime earnings, the age at which you claim them, and the year you begin collecting. Because of this, there is no single maximum benefit that applies to everyone. The examples below assume you earned the taxable maximum every year starting at age 22 and begin claiming benefits in 2026:
- Claiming at full retirement age in 2026 would net a monthly benefit of $4,152.
- Claiming early at age 62 in 2026 would reduce the benefit to $2,969.
- Delaying benefits until age 70 in 2026 would increase the monthly amount to $5,181.
Average benefits are usually lower than the maximum amounts, however. In December 2025, the average benefit was $2,071.30 for a retired worker.
What’s more, January marks the first of boosted payments for 2026. Due to the annual cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, benefit payments for all programs were boosted by 2.8 percent at the start of this month. The adjustment is made every year to help benefits keep up with inflation. On average, Social Security retirement benefits will increase by about $56 per month, the SSA has reported.
“Social Security is a promise kept, and the annual cost-of-living adjustment is one way we are working to make sure benefits reflect today’s economic realities and continue to provide a foundation of security,” said SSA Commissioner Frank J. Bisignano said. “The cost-of-living adjustment is a vital part of how Social Security delivers on its mission.”
However, a significant share of that increase will be offset for many beneficiaries by higher Medicare Part B premiums, which are set to rise by nearly 10 percent this year to $202.90 a month. Medicare Part B is the portion of Medicare that helps pay for outpatient medical services, including doctor visits, preventive care, lab tests, durable medical equipment, and some home health services.