Millions of Americans will receive their Social Security payment this week. The checks, amounting to up to $5,181, are to be distributed on Wednesday. Approximately 75 million Americans are recipients of Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.
Social Security beneficiaries typically receive payments based on their birth date. Those born from the 1st to the 10th get theirs on the second Wednesday of the month. Individuals born from the 11th to the 20th receive payments on the third Wednesday, while those with birthdays between the 21st and 31st get theirs on the fourth Wednesday.
The payments this week include those whose birthdays fall between the 11th and 20th, due on September 16. Some exceptions exist, however. Those who started receiving Social Security before May 1997, and beneficiaries who receive both Social Security and SSI, generally get paid on the third of the month instead. SSI payments typically occur on the first.
The SSA advises that recipients wait three working days if payments are not received on the due date before they contact the agency.
The sum a retiree receives is strongly influenced by their earnings history and the age at which they claim benefits. For those who earned at or above the maximum taxable amount, monthly retirement benefits in 2026 are $2,969 at age 62, $4,152 at full retirement age, and $5,181 if benefits start at age 70.
Most retirees receive less. Data from the SSA Monthly Statistical Snapshot indicate that the average retired worker received $2,085.98 per month in July 2026, with the overall average payment to all beneficiaries, including survivors and disability recipients, being $1,940.08.
To qualify for retirement benefits, most workers must earn 40 Social Security credits. In 2026, one credit is obtained for every $1,890 in covered earnings, allowing workers to earn up to four credits annually.
The figure of $5,181 represents the maximum possible retirement benefit for individuals with earnings at or above the taxable maximum and who delay claiming benefits until age 70. This is not typical for most retirees; the average retired worker benefit is considerably less. Understanding the difference between the best-case maximum and the average can provide clarity.
Inflation data from August has shed light on the potential increase in Social Security benefits for 2027. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a 3.5 percent rise in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) over the year through August. This brought the index to 328.481, up from July’s reading of 327.104.
The data helps forecast the 2027 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA), estimated to be between 3.4 percent and 3.6 percent. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget predicts a 3.4 percent increase. Independent analyst Mary Johnson estimates a 3.5 percent hike, similar to forecasts by The Senior Citizens League.
If the increase is 3.5 percent, beneficiaries might see an average boost of $67.90 per month. AARP suggests a 3.6 percent increase could raise monthly benefits by about $75.
Applying the 3.4-to-3.6 percent range to SSA’s average retired-worker benefit of $2,085.98 translates to an increase of $71 to $75 per month. The exact figure depends on the September CPI-W reading set for release on October 14. Social Security calculates the COLA by reflecting on the average CPI-W figures from July, August, and September relative to the third-quarter average of the previous year. The official 2027 COLA announcement is expected on the same day.
Medicare Part B premiums could affect the net increase beneficiaries experience. Premiums are often deducted directly from Social Security benefits for Medicare enrollees, potentially offsetting a portion of the COLA. The finalized Part B premium for 2027 is yet to be determined. Beneficiaries are advised to view the projected COLA as a gross increase, not the precise monthly increase they will see.