As 2026 begins, the Social Security Administration (SSA) is rolling out the first round of payments reflecting the recently approved 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). This annual increase, aimed at helping beneficiaries keep pace with inflation, affects a broad group of individuals relying on retirement, disability, and survivor benefits.
The first round of checks under this new COLA schedule is set to go out on Wednesday, January 14, and applies to a specific group based on birth dates. According to the SSA, these early-month disbursements are just one part of a broader calendar that will continue throughout January.
Birth Date Determines January 14 Payment Eligibility
The Social Security payment scheduled for Wednesday, January 14, 2026, will only reach beneficiaries born on certain days of the month. According to the SSA’s 2026 payment calendar, individuals are eligible for this date’s deposit only if their birthday falls between the 1st and 10th of any month. This rule applies to those receiving retirement, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), and survivor benefits.
This structure follows a tiered payment plan designed to spread out disbursements across the month. Beneficiaries with birth dates between the 11th and 20th will receive payments on January 21, while those born between the 21st and 31st will be paid on January 28.
Not all Social Security recipients are included in these Wednesday distributions. According to the SSA, individuals who began collecting benefits prior to May 1997 already received their January payment on January 2. These early payments are issued under a separate system that does not follow the date-of-birth schedule.
First COLA-Adjusted Checks Reflect Higher Benefit Amounts
The January 14 payment is also significant because it marks the first application of the 2026 COLA, which adds an average of $56 per month to a retiree’s benefit. According to SSA figures, the average monthly benefit for retired workers will now exceed $2,060, up from $2,013.32 in 2025.
Other categories see similar increases. People receiving SSDI will receive approximately $1,633, up from $1,588.52. Survivor benefits rise as well, averaging $1,620.33, compared to the previous year’s $1,576.20. The SSA designed this 2.8% adjustment to help recipients offset increases in everyday living expenses.
COLA changes are based on inflation data measured by the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). According to the SSA, these annual adjustments are meant to ensure that fixed incomes retain purchasing power as consumer prices rise. While the adjustments provide some relief, they are not uniform. The exact benefit a person receives depends on their earnings history, type of benefit, and the age at which they began claiming Social Security.
This month’s payment schedule follows a routine structure that will continue throughout the year, with payments issued on the second, third, and fourth Wednesdays, depending on birth dates. As each round of deposits arrives, recipients can expect the same COLA-increased benefit amounts throughout 2026.
