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

Understanding Social Security 2026 COLA

The Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is the annual increase meant to protect benefits from inflation. The Social Security Administration (SSA) announces the COLA in October for the next calendar year.

This article explains who gets paid early, when increases take effect, and how to estimate your 2026 benefit change.

When the 2026 COLA Takes Effect

The announced COLA applies to benefits payable for January of the next year. That means most Social Security beneficiaries will see the new, higher payment in January 2026.

There is an important exception for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). SSI benefits are adjusted a month earlier—SSI recipients typically receive the increase in December 2025. This timing helps states and agencies manage related programs and budget changes.

Who Gets Paid Early: The Short Answer

People who get the COLA earlier than January are generally SSI recipients. SSI rules require the December payment to reflect the new federal benefit rate so states can coordinate payments and benefits that depend on SSI levels.

Most Social Security retirement and disability beneficiaries do not get the COLA payment in December. Their higher benefit amount shows up starting with the January 2026 payment.

Common beneficiary groups and timing

• SSI recipients: COLA reflected in December payment.
• Social Security retirement and SSDI recipients: COLA reflected in January payment.
• People with older payment schedules: Those who originally received benefits before the SSA changed payment rules in 1997 may have different pay dates, but the COLA timing (January for Social Security, December for SSI) still applies.

How the COLA Is Calculated

The COLA is based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). SSA compares the average CPI-W for July through September of the current year with the same period from the prior year.

If the CPI-W rises, the percentage increase becomes the COLA. That percentage is then applied to benefits payable the next January.

How Much You’ll Receive: Simple Steps to Estimate Your Increase

You don’t need complex math to estimate your 2026 increase. Use this straightforward method.

1. Find your current monthly benefit amount (for Social Security or SSI).
2. Pick the announced COLA percentage for 2026 (the SSA announces this in October 2025).
3. Multiply your current benefit by the COLA percentage to get the increase amount.
4. Add the increase to your current benefit to get the new monthly amount.

Formula

New benefit = Current benefit × (1 + COLA%). For example, if COLA = 3% then multiply by 1.03.

Examples and a Small Case Study

Here are quick examples to make the math clear.

• If you receive $1,500/month and the COLA is 3%, your increase is $1,500 × 0.03 = $45. New monthly payment = $1,545 starting January 2026.
• If an SSI recipient gets the federal maximum of $914 and COLA is 3%, the increase is $27. New SSI payment = $941, and the higher rate typically appears in December 2025.

Case Study: Maria’s 2026 Planning

Maria retired and gets $1,800 per month from Social Security. She expects a COLA but doesn’t yet know the percentage. For planning, she models a 4% increase. That gives her an added $72 per month ($1,800 × 0.04), making her January 2026 payment $1,872.

Maria’s neighbor, who receives SSI, sees the same percentage applied in December, so they get the extra in their December check instead of January.

Other Timing Details and Tips

Social Security payments are distributed on a monthly schedule tied to birth dates and payment rules. The COLA change doesn’t alter the schedule; it changes the dollar amount.

Watch for SSA announcements in October for the official 2026 COLA percentage. The SSA posts details on www.ssa.gov and in news releases.

Practical tips

• Check your benefit amount on your SSA account before October so you know your baseline number.
• Use a conservative estimate for planning (e.g., 1–4%) and update when SSA announces the actual COLA.
• If you receive SSI, expect the increase to appear in December and adjust any budgets that rely on SSI accordingly.

What to Watch For

Key dates: the SSA announces the COLA in October 2025, SSI shows the new rate in December 2025, and Social Security monthly benefits reflect the increase starting January 2026.

If you rely on benefit income, update your budget as soon as SSA publishes the percentage. Contact SSA or a benefits counselor if you have questions about how the increase affects other programs such as Medicaid, Medicare premiums, or state assistance.

Following the simple steps above will help you know who gets paid early and how much your Social Security or SSI payment might rise for 2026.