The Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) announced for 2026 will change the dollar amount of monthly benefits starting in January. This article explains who may get payments earlier than others, how payment dates are set, and shows simple examples of how a COLA affects benefit amounts.
How the Social Security 2026 COLA affects your benefit
COLA is applied as a percentage increase to the monthly Social Security benefit, meant to keep payments in line with inflation. When the Social Security Administration (SSA) announces the 2026 COLA in October, that percentage is used to raise benefits beginning the following January.
The increase appears on your January benefit payment and on every monthly benefit after that. The precise dollar change depends on your current benefit amount and the announced COLA percentage.
How COLA is calculated
COLA is calculated by comparing the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) for the third quarter of the current year with the third quarter of the previous year. If prices rise, the SSA applies that percentage increase to benefits.
Because the announced COLA varies year to year, the real increase you receive depends on that percentage and your base benefit.
Who gets paid early under the Social Security 2026 COLA rules
Social Security payments are distributed on scheduled days each month. Some beneficiaries might see the new COLA amount earlier in January depending on their payment schedule and how holidays fall.
If a scheduled payment date lands on a weekend or federal holiday, SSA typically deposits the benefit on the preceding business day. That can make some people receive their January payment a business day earlier than usual.
Standard payment schedules
Here are the main schedules used by SSA for monthly payments. These determine when your first COLA-adjusted payment arrives.
- Born on the 1st–10th of the month: payment on the second Wednesday each month.
- Born on the 11th–20th: payment on the third Wednesday each month.
- Born on the 21st–31st: payment on the fourth Wednesday each month.
- People who began receiving benefits before May 1997: often still receive payments on the third day of each month (legacy schedule).
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients: typically receive payments on the 1st of the month, though state variations exist.
Note: If any of the scheduled dates fall on a weekend or federal holiday, the deposit is moved to the previous business day. That is the main way some people receive payments earlier in January.
Social Security 2026 COLA payment dates — what to expect
SSA announces the COLA in October. The new amounts are applied starting with the January payment. Which day in January you see the higher amount depends on your payment group and any holiday adjustments.
Practical steps to know your payment date:
- Check your SSA account online at ssa.gov for your exact payment day.
- Watch the SSA COLA announcement in October to learn the percentage increase.
- If your payment date is moved because of a holiday, expect arrival on the prior business day.
Common early-payment scenarios
- January 1 is a federal holiday — if the normal payment falls on that date, deposits move to the last business day of December, so some people get paid in late December.
- When a normal Wednesday payment lands on a holiday, SSA moves the deposit to the previous business day.
- SSI recipients who normally get the 1st-of-month payment may receive funds earlier if the 1st is a weekend or federal holiday.
SSA moves scheduled payments to the previous business day when a payment date falls on a weekend or federal holiday. That is the most common reason beneficiaries get paid early in January.
How much you’ll receive from the Social Security 2026 COLA
Your new benefit equals your current monthly benefit multiplied by (1 + COLA%). Below are simple examples showing different hypothetical COLA percentages so you can estimate your increase quickly.
Simple calculation examples
- Example formula: New Benefit = Current Benefit × (1 + COLA%).
- Example 1 (current benefit $1,200): With a 3.2% COLA — New Benefit = $1,200 × 1.032 = $1,238.40 (increase $38.40).
- Example 2 (current benefit $1,500): With a 4.0% COLA — New Benefit = $1,500 × 1.04 = $1,560.00 (increase $60.00).
- Example 3 (current benefit $2,000): With an 8.7% COLA — New Benefit = $2,000 × 1.087 = $2,174.00 (increase $174.00).
These are illustrative numbers. Use the actual COLA percentage announced by SSA for precise amounts.
Short case study: A real-world example
Janet is 68 and currently receives $1,350 per month. She was born on the 15th of the month, so SSA pays her on the third Wednesday.
If SSA announces a 3.2% COLA for 2026, Janet’s new payment in January will be $1,350 × 1.032 = $1,393.20. She will see the higher amount on the scheduled January payment day, unless that Wednesday is a federal holiday and SSA deposits early.
Practical tips and next steps
- Sign in to your My Social Security account to confirm your payment schedule and watch for the October COLA announcement.
- Plan for slight timing shifts if a payment date falls on a weekend or federal holiday.
- Use the simple formula above to estimate your new benefit once SSA announces the COLA percentage.
Knowing your payment schedule and how COLA works helps you anticipate changes to your monthly budget. When SSA publishes the 2026 COLA, plug that percentage into the examples above to see exactly how much more you’ll receive each month.