Social Security 2026 COLA — Who Gets Paid Early and How Much You’ll Receive

What the Social Security 2026 COLA Means

The Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) is an annual increase to Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits meant to offset inflation. The Social Security Administration (SSA) announces the official 2026 COLA in October 2025.

When the SSA announces the COLA, it applies to benefits payable in January of the following year. That means the new benefit amounts become effective for the December benefit paid in January 2026.

Who Gets Paid Early with the 2026 COLA

Not everyone sees their changed benefit on the same calendar day. Certain recipients may receive an earlier payment because of how SSA schedules benefits and crediting rules.

SSI recipients: SSI benefits are normally paid on the first of the month. If the first falls on a weekend or federal holiday, SSA pays on the prior business day, which can lead to an early December payment when the COLA takes effect.
Social Security beneficiaries with weekend/holiday payment days: If your regular payment date falls on a weekend or federal holiday in January, SSA often makes the deposit on the prior business day in December.
Direct deposit timing: Banks sometimes post payments earlier when the ACH date falls on a holiday, so your bank may show funds a day earlier than normal.

How to Tell if You’ll Be Paid Early

Check your regular payment schedule. SSA publishes payment calendars showing the normal deposit days for each birth-date group and for SSI recipients.

If a scheduled payment date falls on New Year’s Day, a Saturday, or a Sunday, expect the payment to be posted on the previous business day—often the last weekday of December.

How Much You’ll Receive with the 2026 COLA

The amount you receive depends on the official COLA percentage announced by SSA. Your new gross benefit equals your current benefit times (1 + COLA%).

Use this simple formula to estimate: New Benefit = Current Benefit × (1 + COLA%).

Example Calculations

If your current benefit is $1,500 and the COLA is 3.0%: $1,500 × 1.03 = $1,545. That’s an extra $45 per month before deductions.
If your current benefit is $2,200 and the COLA is 5.0%: $2,200 × 1.05 = $2,310. That’s an extra $110 per month before deductions.

Remember Deductions and Net Change

Gross increases from COLA are reduced by items deducted from benefits. The most common deductions are Medicare Part B and D premiums, taxes, and voluntary withholdings.

Medicare Part B premiums often change year to year and are typically deducted from Social Security benefits starting in January. A higher Part B premium can offset much of your COLA increase.

Net Gain Example

Using a real-world style example: If your benefit rises by $50 from COLA but your Part B premium rises by $36, your net increase is $14.

Small Case Study: How COLA and Billing Changes Affect One Retiree

Case: Linda, a 68-year-old retired teacher, currently receives $1,800 per month. The SSA announces a 4.0% COLA for 2026.

Gross new benefit: $1,800 × 1.04 = $1,872 (an increase of $72).
New Part B premium deducted from benefits increases by $40/month.
Resulting net increase: $72 − $40 = $32 per month.

Linda’s SSA deposit in January 2026 shows the new gross amount, but the bank statement reflects the net amount after Medicare and any other deductions. If Linda receives SSI as well, she may have gotten a December payment posted earlier due to the first-of-month rule.

Practical Steps to Prepare for the 2026 COLA

Watch SSA announcements in October 2025 for the official COLA percentage.
Log in to your My Social Security account to view estimated benefit amounts with the announced COLA.
Check the SSA payment calendar to see if your payment will be moved earlier because of holidays.
Review Medicare Part B and Part D premium notices, as those affect your net increase.
Contact SSA or your financial advisor if your net benefit change affects budgeting for bills or long-term care costs.

Did You Know?

SSA’s COLA applies to benefits payable in January, which are credited as the December benefit. SSI is typically paid on the first of the month and may be posted earlier if the first is a weekend or holiday.

Where to Get Official Information and Tools

Use the Social Security Administration website and your My Social Security account for the most accurate, official estimates. SSA posts the COLA percentage and provides calculators and payment schedules each fall.

If you rely on SSI or monthly benefits for essential expenses, plan ahead by checking your expected net increase and scheduling or adjusting payments and budgets accordingly.

Quick Checklist: Will You See an Early Payment?

Are you an SSI recipient? You may see a payment on or before December 1.
Does your regular payment date fall on a weekend or holiday? Expect it earlier in late December.
Do you receive direct deposit? Check with your bank for posting policies on holidays.

Monitoring SSA updates in October 2025 and checking your January deposit will tell you exactly when and how much your 2026 COLA affects your finances.