Who will receive Social Security and SSI payment increases in advance? List of beneficiaries

Thanks to the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments will rise in 2027. While the increase is officially scheduled to take effect in January, some beneficiaries will see the higher payments arrive before the new year.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) calculates the COLA based on inflation trends to help beneficiaries maintain their purchasing power. In general, when inflation rises, Social Security and SSI benefits increase as well.

On October 14, the SSA confirmed that the 2027 COLA will be 3.6%, marking the largest increase in the last four years. The adjustment will apply to all benefits administered by the agency, although payments will be issued on different dates depending on the program and recipient. Here’s who will receive the increase first.

Who will receive the COLA increase first?

Although the COLA is announced in October, it does not take effect until benefits payable for January 2027. However, some recipients will receive those January payments slightly early, because SSA policy requires payments falling on a weekend or federal holiday to be issued on the preceding business day.

As a result, the SSA will send out January 2027’s SSI benefits on Thursday, December 31, 2026. The payment is being moved up because January 1 is the New Year’s Day federal holiday.

December 31 will also be the payment date for Social Security beneficiaries who began receiving their monthly benefits before May 1997. Those payments are being issued early because January 3 falls on a Sunday.

In addition, individuals who claim both Social Security and SSI benefits will receive their two payments on December 31.

January 2027’s remaining Social Security benefits will be distributed as follows:

• Wednesday, January 13: Beneficiaries born from 1st to 10th of any month.
• Wednesday, January 20: Beneficiaries born from 11th to 20th of any month
• Wednesday, January 27: Beneficiaries born from 21st to 31st of any month

How Social Security and SSI benefits will increase

With the 3.6% COLA increase, the average retired worker’s monthly Social Security benefit will rise by about $75, from $2,095 to $2,170.

According to the SSA, average Social Security benefits will look like this after the 3.6% COLA increase takes effect:

• All retired workers: $2,170
• Elderly couple, both receiving benefits: $3,355
• Widowed mother with two children: $4,074
• Elderly widow or widower living alone: $2,005
• Disabled worker, spouse, and one or more children: $3,077
• All disabled workers: $1,701

Meanwhile, the maximum federal SSI payment will increase from $994 to $1,029 for individuals and from $1,491 to $1,544 per month for couples in which both partners receive benefits.

Social Security and SSI benefits are calculated individually based on several factors, meaning each recipient’s payment amount is different. To estimate what your monthly benefit could look like in 2027, multiply your current payment by 1.036, or simply add 3.6%.

The SSA will notify beneficiaries of their exact new payment amounts in December through their my Social Security accounts or by mail.

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