(NEXSTAR) – Tens of millions of Social Security and Supplemental Security beneficiaries will soon receive their first, slightly larger check of the new year, thanks to the 2026 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).
The annual financial boost, designed to combat inflation, is 2.8 percent for 2026 – which will raise the estimated average Social Security benefit for all retired workers from $2,015 to $2,071, according to the Social Security Administration.
When that first check arrives will depend on several factors, however.
For recipients of Supplemental Security, financial assistance for people with limited income or disabilities, the first payment will actually happen ahead of the normal schedule, in 2025. Since Jan. 1 is New Year’s Day, a federal holiday, payments will go out on Wednesday, Dec. 31.
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People who receive both Social Security and Supplemental Security benefits will get their payments on Jan. 2.
As for Social Security benefits, the schedule is dependent on the recipients birthday:
Wednesday, Jan. 14 (born between the 1st and 10th)
Wednesday, Jan. 21 (born between the 11th and 20th)
Wednesday, Jan. 28 (born between the 21st and 31st)
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SSA plans to cut field office visits in half
Along with a Medicare premium hike set to eat into Social Security beneficiaries’ cost of living adjustment (COLA), participants will have another hurdle to navigate in 2026 – the proposed 50% cutback on field office visits.
Field offices have long been community-based branches that serve as the public face of the SSA, which provide in-person help for people applying for retirement and disability benefits, getting Social Security cards and other important services.
A November internal field office operating plan shared with The Associated Press outlines a proposed target of 50% fewer field office visitors in fiscal year 2026 compared to fiscal year 2025, or no more than 15 million field office visits by members of the public. Agency field offices saw more than 31.6 million field office visits from SSA recipients from Oct. 1, 2024, to Sept. 30, 2025, according to the agency document.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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