Social Security beneficiaries will see higher benefit payments in 2026 thanks to an annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) that bumps their benefits up a smidge. While COLA increases have ranged as high as 8.9% (in 2022, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic), on average they are moderate, just enough to keep pace with inflation.
Here’s what the average retired worker can expect for their spring 2026 checks, according to the Social Security Administration (SSA), how that compares to 2025 and what factors into those estimates.
Despite the ongoing cost pressures retirees face, the Social Security Administration announced that the COLA for benefits payable in 2026 will rise 2.8%, up from 2.5% in 2025. This increase applies to Social Security retirement benefits, disability benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments for millions of Americans. While this may not seem like a sizable benefit, there have been several years in the past decade where there was little to no COLA adjustment (2015 and 2016) or not even 2% (2019 and 2020).
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According to SSA estimates, the average retired worker benefit before COLA in late 2025 was about $2,015 per month. After applying the 2.8% COLA, that average is expected to rise to approximately $2,071 per month in January 2026, an increase of roughly $56 per month on average. This means it’s likely that the average spring 2026 payment will be around $2,071.
As with all Social Security benefits, individual amounts vary widely based on lifetime earnings and the age at which benefits are first claimed.
For retirees looking to find out when their spring checks are coming, follow the SSA’s payment calendar based on birth date.
The second Wednesday of the month for those born on the 1st through the 10th.
The third Wednesday for those born on the 11th through the 20th.
The fourth Wednesday for those born on the 21st through the 31st.
If you received Social Security benefits before May 1997, or if you receive both Social Security and SSI, you may receive payments on other scheduled dates (e.g., the 3rd of the month for some beneficiaries).
If you’re still relatively new to Social Security benefits and have questions about what influences your Social Security benefit, it’s based on the following:
Work history and earnings: Social Security is based on your 35 highest-earning years. You generally need to have worked 10 years to qualify, unless you have a disability or qualify for spousal benefits.
Age when you claim: Taking benefits at full retirement age (usually around 66 to 67, depending on birth year) delivers higher monthly payments than claiming at the earliest age of 62; waiting until age 70 increases payments further.
Medicare premiums: Automatic Part B premiums are typically deducted from the benefit check, reducing net take-home.
If you receive SSI: Supplemental Security Income also increases with the COLA but follows its own payment schedule.
