Social Security 2026: Payment Amounts & Full Payment Date Schedule
Retirement and SSDI amounts after the 2.8% COLA, plus every 2026 payment date — verified from the Social Security Administration.
✓ Every figure on this page verified against the primary government source as of July 16, 2026.
SSI & Social Security 2026 Estimator
Uses the official 2026 figures after the 2.8% COLA (cost-of-living adjustment).
🔒 Runs entirely in your browser — nothing you enter is sent to a server, stored, or shared. No account required.
After the 2.8% COLA, the average 2026 Social Security retirement check is $2,071 per month (maximum $4,152 at full retirement age), and the average SSDI check is $1,630. Payments arrive on the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th Wednesday of each month based on your birth date.
Key takeaways
- Expect 2.8% more in every check from January 2026 — about $56/month for the average retiree.
- Find your payday by birth date: 1st–10th → 2nd Wednesday; 11th–20th → 3rd Wednesday; 21st–31st → 4th Wednesday.
- Plan around the maximum: $4,152/month at full retirement age in 2026.
- Watch the earnings test: $24,480/year before benefits are withheld if you're under FRA all year.
- Note the wage base: earnings up to $184,500 are taxed for Social Security in 2026.
2026 benefit amounts at a glance
| Benefit | Before COLA | After 2.8% COLA |
|---|---|---|
| All retired workers | $2,015 | $2,071 |
| Aged couple, both receiving benefits | $3,120 | $3,208 |
| All disabled workers (SSDI) | $1,586 | $1,630 |
| Disabled worker + spouse + children | $2,857 | $2,937 |
| Aged widow(er) alone | $1,867 | $1,919 |
| Widowed parent + two children | $3,792 | $3,898 |
| Maximum at full retirement age | $4,018 | $4,152 |
2026 payment date calendar
| Month | Born 1st–10th | Born 11th–20th | Born 21st–31st | Pre-May 1997 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Jan 14 | Jan 21 | Jan 28 | Jan 2 |
| February | Feb 11 | Feb 18 | Feb 25 | Feb 3 |
| March | Mar 11 | Mar 18 | Mar 25 | Mar 3 |
| April | Apr 8 | Apr 15 | Apr 22 | Apr 3 |
| May | May 13 | May 20 | May 27 | May 1 |
| June | Jun 10 | Jun 17 | Jun 24 | Jun 3 |
| July | Jul 8 | Jul 15 | Jul 22 | Jul 2 |
| August | Aug 12 | Aug 19 | Aug 26 | Aug 3 |
| September | Sep 9 | Sep 16 | Sep 23 | Sep 3 |
| October | Oct 14 | Oct 21 | Oct 28 | Oct 2 |
| November | Nov 10† | Nov 18 | Nov 25 | Nov 3 |
| December | Dec 9 | Dec 16 | Dec 23 | Dec 3 |
Receiving both Social Security and SSI? Social Security arrives on the 3rd and SSI on the 1st.
Other 2026 Social Security numbers
| Item | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Taxable maximum (wage base) | $176,100 | $184,500 |
| Earnings test — under FRA | $23,400/yr | $24,480/yr |
| Earnings test — year reaching FRA | $62,160/yr | $65,160/yr |
| SGA (non-blind) | $1,620/mo | $1,690/mo |
| SGA (blind) | $2,700/mo | $2,830/mo |
| Trial work period month | $1,160 | $1,210 |
| Quarter of coverage (1 credit) | $1,810 | $1,890 |
SGA = Substantial Gainful Activity, the monthly earnings level above which SSA generally considers you not disabled for SSDI purposes. FRA = Full Retirement Age (67 for anyone born in 1960 or later).
How Social Security interacts with other benefits
- SNAP: your COLA counts as income — a $56 raise typically trims SNAP by about $17/month (30¢ per net dollar).
- SSI: a Social Security check under $1,014 can be topped up by SSI to the $994 federal floor.
- Medicare: Part B premiums are deducted from your check — a premium increase can absorb part of the COLA.
- Medicaid: low-income beneficiaries can get Medicare Savings Programs to cover the Part B premium — apply through your state Medicaid agency.
- Taxes: up to 85% of benefits are taxable at higher incomes; the 2025 OBBBA law added a senior deduction (up to $6,000) many retirees can claim for 2025–2028.
Where to apply
Apply with the Social Security Administration — online at ssa.gov/apply, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or at a local office. Retirement applications open up to 4 months before you want benefits to start.
Frequently asked questions
What days does Social Security pay in 2026?
Payments follow your birth date: born the 1st–10th, you're paid the second Wednesday; 11th–20th, the third Wednesday; 21st–31st, the fourth Wednesday. People receiving benefits since before May 1997 are paid on the 3rd of each month.
How much did Social Security go up in 2026?
Benefits rose 2.8% with the January 2026 COLA. The average retired-worker check increased about $56, from $2,015 to $2,071 per month.
What is the maximum Social Security benefit in 2026?
A worker retiring at full retirement age in 2026 can receive up to $4,152 per month. Claiming at 70 pushes the maximum higher; claiming at 62 reduces it.
How much is SSDI in 2026?
SSDI follows the same 2.8% COLA. The average disabled worker receives $1,630 per month in 2026; a disabled worker with a spouse and children averages $2,937.
How much can I earn while on Social Security in 2026?
Under full retirement age all year, you can earn $24,480 in 2026 before SSA withholds $1 for every $2 above the limit. In the year you reach FRA, the limit is $65,160 ($1 withheld per $3). From the month you hit FRA, there is no limit.
Why was the November 2026 payment early?
The second-Wednesday payment moved to Tuesday, November 10, 2026, because Wednesday, November 11 is Veterans Day. When a payment date falls on a holiday, SSA pays the prior business day.
How much income is taxed for Social Security in 2026?
The taxable maximum rose to $184,500 for 2026 (from $176,100). You and your employer each pay 6.2% Social Security tax up to that wage level.
Do I get my COLA automatically?
Yes. The 2.8% COLA is applied automatically to January 2026 payments — no action needed. SSA mailed COLA notices in December 2025 and posts them in your my Social Security account.