Exclusive: Social Security Payments Advance to December 31 - Know Your 2026 COLA Increase

The US Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced a change in the payment schedule for January 2026, shifting the date to December 31 due to the federal holiday on New Year's Day. This adjustment affects over 74 million recipients of Social Security benefits and an additional 7 million Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries. The SSA payment schedule is based on the birth date of the worker who earned the benefit, rather than the current recipient. For December 2025, payments are as follows: - Individuals born from 1st to 10th: December 10 - Individuals born from 11th to 20th: December 17 - Individuals born from 21st to 31st: December 24 SSI beneficiaries typically receive payments on the first day of each month, but in December, the payment was made on December 1. Due to the federal holiday, the January 2026 payment will be expedited and disbursed on December 31, 2025, with a new 2.8% higher Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) rate. Dual beneficiaries who receive both SSI and Social Security payments received their SSI payment on December 1 and their Social Security payment on December 3. They will receive an additional deposit on December 31, corresponding to the January SSI payment. The SSA has also revealed the average monthly benefits for 2025: - Retirees: $2,013.32 - Maximum Social Security benefit: $5,108 - Disabled workers (SSDI): $1,588.52 - Survivor benefits: $1,576.20 - SSI beneficiaries: $717.90 Stay ahead of the changes in your Social Security payments and COLA increase with our comprehensive guide.