Social Security benefits are going out on Jan. 2, 2026: here’s who gets a payment
Next week, the U.S.’s Social Security Administration is to make its first round of payments in January 2026.
Next Friday, certain recipients of Social Security benefits are to get their first monthly payment of the new year, as the Social Security Administration (SSA) embarks on its distribution schedule for 2026.
Jan. 2’s payment date, which benefits two groups of Social Security recipients, comes slightly earlier than usual. It would usually fall 24 hours later, but has been brought forward as Jan. 3 is a weekend day.
Who’s receiving a check from Social Security on Friday, Jan. 2?
- Some long-term beneficiaries
The SSA is to issue payments to certain long-standing Social Security recipients: those who signed up for retirement benefits, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or survivor pay before May 1997.
- Beneficiaries who also receive SSI
Jan. 2 is also your payment date for retirement, SSDI or survivor checks if you combine any of these benefits with Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - a program for low-income Americans who are over 65 or have a disability. (January’s SSI money is due to go out earlier in the week: on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025.)
How much do retirement, SSDI and survivor recipients get?
As of November 2025 - these are the most recent figures published by the SSA - retired workers got an average of $2,013.32 a month; disabled workers received $1,588.52 a month on average; and recipients of survivor benefits were paid an average of $1,576.20 a month.
Beginning with January’s payments, however, benefit amounts are to go up. In the fall, the SSA confirmed that recipients will get a 2.8% increase in their monthly checks, as part of the agency’s annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).
For recipients of retirement benefits - who account for the vast majority of the U.S.’s Social Security beneficiaries - this means an average rise of $56 per month, the SSA says. For more information on 2026’s adjusted benefit amounts, take a look at this COLA fact sheet posted by the agency.
When are other Social Security beneficiaries paid in January?
If not among those paid on Jan. 2, recipients of retirement, SSDI or survivor benefits will get their money on the second, third or fourth Wednesday in January.
A beneficiary’s designated Wednesday depends on the date of birth of the worker whose Social Security taxes have accumulated the benefits entitlement:
- Born on 1st-10th of month: Weds., Jan. 14
- Born on 11th-20th of month: Weds., Jan. 21
- Born on 21st-31st of month: Weds., Jan. 28
Because January begins on a Thursday, the month’s three Wednesday-payment dates come at their latest possible point. This will also be the case in October 2026.
You can check out the SSA’s complete schedule of payments for 2026 in this online calendar.
How does Social Security send out benefits payments?
The SSA says it is “in most cases” no longer giving beneficiaries the option of receiving their money in paper-check form. Instead, the agency offers beneficiaries two ways of receiving electronic payments:
- Direct deposit
By providing the SSA with their bank details, beneficiaries can be paid by direct deposit. Recipients of retirement, SSDI and survivor benefits can supply their bank-account information using the online “my Social Security” portal.
- Direct Express Card
Beneficiaries also have the option of having their payments loaded onto the Direct Express Card, a special debit card for federal disbursements made to people without a bank account. Sign up for the card by calling 1-800-333-1795 or going to the Direct Express website.
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