Starting Social Security in January 2026? 3 Things to Expect

Key Points

• Technically, the Social Security Administration pays benefits in the month following the month they’re due.

• Some people won’t receive their payments until the fourth Wednesday of each month.

• If you’re on Medicare, your Part B premiums will be automatically deducted from your Social Security checks.

• The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook ›

Starting Social Security is a huge milestone and probably something you’ve been looking forward to for a long time. And if you’re getting close to that point, you may have already applied and found out how much you’ll receive each month. You may even be waiting for that first check to hit your account.

It’s exciting, but it can also be a bit confusing if you don’t understand some of the Social Security Administration’s less obvious rules surrounding payments. Preparing yourself for these three things now should help you avoid unpleasant surprises later.

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1. You receive Social Security checks the month after they’re due

You might assume that if you say you want your benefits to begin in January 2026, you’ll receive your first check in January. But that’s not how it works. The Social Security Administration pays benefits in the month following the month they’re due. Therefore, your January benefit will arrive in February.

This means you’ll need another source of income to cover your January expenses. You could withdraw funds from a retirement account if you have one. Or, if you are still working, you may need to stay at your job for a few weeks more than you had planned until that first Social Security check arrives.

2. Your payment dates depend on your birth date

The Social Security Administration also has a system that determines what day your checks will arrive each month. There are three payment days, and yours depends on your birth date. Here’s how it breaks down:

• Born on the 1st through the 10th: Second Wednesday of every month.

• Born on the 11th through the 20th: Third Wednesday of every month.

• Born on the 21st through the 31st: Fourth Wednesday of every month.

If you fall into that last group, your January check won’t arrive until Feb. 25, 2026, so you might actually need to cover your expenses on your own for most of February as well.

There is one exception to the above payment schedule: individuals receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI). This is a separate benefit that the Social Security Administration distributes to low-income people who are blind, disabled, or seniors. SSI beneficiaries receive their SSI payments on the first of the month and their Social Security benefits on the third of the month. If either of those days falls on a weekend or holiday, payment shifts to the last business day before that weekend or holiday.

3. If you’re on Medicare, your Part B premiums will come out of your Social Security checks

When you enroll in Medicare, you’ll have to pay Part B premiums to keep your coverage in effect. You’ll get quarterly bills for them if you’re not on Social Security. But once you sign up for benefits, your Part B premiums, which will cost most people $202.90 per month in 2026, typically are deducted directly from your checks.

Those in higher-income households are charged higher premiums for their Part B coverage. If your annual income in 2024 was greater than $109,000 for single filers or $218,000 for married couples filing jointly, your monthly Part B premium next year will be between $284.10 and $689.90, depending on your 2024 income and marital status.

The Social Security Administration should send you a notice showing how much it will deduct for Part B premiums and what your net benefit will be. It’s crucial to pay attention to this when budgeting so you know how much you’ll have left over for other expenses.

When your first check is direct deposited, double-check the amount to ensure it matches what the government told you you’d receive. If it doesn’t, reach out to the Social Security Administration promptly so you can get to the bottom of the error.

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