It’s almost 2026 and with the new year comes a new batch of Social Security checks, the first of which will be sent out as early as December 31 and will reflect the 2.8 percent cost of living adjustment (COLA) for 2026. From there, checks will be issued weekly, but experts are warning recipients that with inflation, the rising costs of Medicare and other increases in spending that the money might not be enough to fund many Americans’ day-to-day lives. Read on for the must-know info. 

Life

Social Security Retirement Age Jumps to 67 in 2026—Here’s How to Prepare

Major changes are coming to Social Security in 2026, due to the fact that the full retirement age (FRA) is going to increase for people born in 1960 or later. This is part of a larger 1983 congressional reform, and it’s expected to be the last increase for a while. We break down what you […]

What to know about Social Security checks in January 2026

In January 2026, Americans on Social Security will receive their money via direct deposit on the following dates. 

• If your birthday falls on the first through the 10th you will get your money on Wednesday, January 14. 
• If your birthday falls on the 11th through the 20th you will get your money on Wednesday, January 21. 
• If your birthday falls on the 21st through the 31st you will get your money on Wednesday, January 28. 

For those receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the January payments will look a little different. 

SSI recipients will get their January payment on December 31, 2025. For February 2026, they will get their money on Friday, January 30. The reason? If a monthly payment falls on a federal holiday or weekend—in January it’s New Year’s Day and in February it’s a weekend—the Social Security Administration (SSA) decides to issue them early. 

Life

Emergency Relief Act May Boost Social Security Checks by $200 in 2026

Good news for Social Security recipients: Congress is working on the Social Security Emergency Inflation Relief Act, which could add an additional $200 to your monthly checks for the first six months of 2026. This would be in addition to the 2.8 percent cost-of-living increase that is also expected to be reflected in 2026 Social […]

A look at how much money you can expect from your January 2026 Social Security checks 

Thanks to the 2026 COLA increase, all Social Security recipients can expect to see a 2.8 percent increase in their monthly checks. With this increase, the SSA hopes people on the government-assistance program can continue to live their lives without financial stress. 

“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,” Social Security Administration Commissioner Frank J. Bisignano said in a statement in October. “The cost-of-living adjustment is a vital part of how Social Security delivers on its mission.”

The average increase is expected to be $56 a month, but recipients should also be receiving a letter from the SSA detailing how much more money they can expect. 

With that increase comes a lot of worry, since many experts believe the increased Medicare costs will essentially wipe out the COLA, meaning that people on Social Security really won’t feel the effects of the 2.8 increase. 

“COLA might reflect the inflation rate, but it is woefully insufficient for older Americans who already have high healthcare costs and are facing even greater increases in their Medicare costs in 2026,” Ramsey Alwin, CEO of the National Council on Aging said in a statement. “This COLA will not even cover the projected increases in Medicare premiums and deductibles, which are expected to range between 4 percent and 12 percent. Once again, older adults will have to make heart-wrenching decisions about whether to spend their fixed incomes on health care, food or housing.”