The 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will mean a small but significant bump in Social Security benefits for millions of Americans, but if you think the money will hit everyone’s account at once, think again.
Some people will see their increased benefits early, while others won’t get a dime until well into January due to the SSA’s odd payment calendar.
How about the short version? SSI recipients will receive their boosted payment on December 31, 2025. The schedule for retirees, SSDI recipients, and survivors will remain the same in January.
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Why Some People Will See Colder-Weather Cash Early
The Social Security Administration schedules payments based on a simple system until a federal holiday interrupts the process. Since January 1 is always a holiday, the government can’t process payments on that day. The agency does what it always does and bumps the deposit to the next business day prior.
As of this year, that date is December 31, 2025, and the beneficiaries of that shift are those who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Payments of SSI are made on the first of every month, but if the date becomes a holiday or weekend, the payment will be made on the last business day of the previous month. SSSA’s payment calendar, available each year on ssa.gov, contains that rule.
Due to this, millions of Americans will technically receive their January 2026 payment before the calendar flips.
Who Gets Paid on December 31?
A group of people sees the early bump as follows:
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- Approximately 7.5 million people receive SSI benefits
- Individuals who receive only SSI
- Social Security recipients who also receive SSI
- A person who normally receives SSI on the first of the month
Deposits made on December 31 are considered to be payments made on January 2026, regardless of the deposit’s date.
What the 2.8% COLA Actually Means
The COLA, which is designed to keep benefits in line with inflation, is fairly straightforward. The price of goods and services rises, so do benefits. Using the CPI-W inflation index from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov/cpi), the official COLA announcement is made.
A COLA of 2.8% is expected for 2026, a slight increase over the adjustment of 2.5% for 2025. There is an increase across the board:
- Retired workers
- Disabled individuals (SSDI)
- Survivors
- SSI beneficiaries
In a world where rent, groceries, and healthcare continue to outpace wages and savings, a retiree who receives $2,000 a month will see about $56 more-not a life-changing amount, but still invaluable in an age when rent, groceries, and healthcare continue to outpace wages.
Who Has to Wait Until January?
You will receive increases in January 2026 if you collect retirement, survivor, or disability benefits, but not SSI.
According to your birthdate, Social Security pays on Wednesdays:
January 2026 Payment Dates
| Birthday Range | Payment Date |
|---|---|
| 1st–10th | January 14, 2026 (Second Wednesday) |
| 11th–20th | January 21, 2026 (Third Wednesday) |
| 21st–31st | January 28, 2026 (Fourth Wednesday) |
In other words, some people will not see a COLA increase until nearly the end of January, especially those who have birthdays later in the month.
The COLA bump happens every year in such a way that people are usually caught off guard by it, especially if they were expecting it to show up immediately.
The next thing you should do is
Getting ready for the next few months can make your life a lot easier:
- Verify the type of benefits you are receiving
It is common for people to forget whether they are receiving Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, or both. - Be sure to mark the date of your payment
Using your birthdate or your SSI status will allow you to determine exactly when you can expect your funds to arrive. - Make sure that you enroll in direct deposit
As a matter of fact, the Treasury highly recommends that you do this-it will prevent mail delays, as well as holiday slowdowns. - Keep an eye on your Social Security account
It is often easier and faster to receive COLA notices and benefit updates online at ssa.gov/myaccount than by mail. - Stay up-to-date with SSA updates
Each fall, SSA.gov/news publishes the payment calendar, COLA breakdown, and FAQs.
There is an increase of 2.8% for everyone who is eligible, but it does not happen to everyone at the same time. SSI recipients get the early jump on December 31, while Social Security beneficiaries follow their normal schedule for January Wednesday as usual.
During these tough economic times, knowing exactly when your money is coming in can make it easier to keep your budget on track, pay your bills on time, and plan ahead for the following month.
