If you are expecting a Social Security payment this week, you will not receive it, so don’t worry. Social Security payment schedules are set before January 1 each year, and recipients can check their dates for the whole year. Paper checks were eliminated on Sept. 30, 2025, so all payments are now delivered electronically.
Social Security payments will increase in 2026 due to the SSA’s cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), which helps fight inflation, as reported by Daily Express U.S. Some recipients say that the COLA increase is still not enough to cover basic living costs. There is no emergency or problem causing this week’s missed payment. It is just due to the way the payment schedule falls in January.
Social Security payment dates for January 2026:
The 2026 COLA increase was announced in October 2025, and it gives recipients an average of $56 extra per month. As of September 2025, the average Social Security check for retirement beneficiaries was $1,956.55, according to Kiplinger.
Social Security benefits vary by state, because payments are based on average lifetime earnings, which differ across regions. Connecticut and New Jersey residents will see the largest increases in the U.S. for 2026, as stated by Daily Express U.S.
Because January payments start later due to how the calendar dates fall.
Q2. When will Social Security payments begin in January 2026?
Payments will begin on January 14, based on the recipient’s birthday schedule.
Social Security payments will increase in 2026 due to the SSA’s cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), which helps fight inflation, as reported by Daily Express U.S. Some recipients say that the COLA increase is still not enough to cover basic living costs. There is no emergency or problem causing this week’s missed payment. It is just due to the way the payment schedule falls in January.
Social Security payment schedule
Most Social Security payments are delivered on the second, third, or fourth Wednesday of each month, based on the recipient’s birthday. Since Jan. 1, 2026, was a Thursday, the first Social Security payment of the year will be on Jan. 14.Social Security payment dates for January 2026:
- Born 1–10: Jan. 14
- Born 11–20: Jan. 21
- Born 21–end of month: Jan. 28
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients: Jan. 30
- Recipients who first received Social Security before May 1997: Jan. 2
Social Security COLA increase
About 7.5 million SSI beneficiaries will get the first COLA bump on Dec. 31, 2025, since Jan. 1 is a holiday, as cited by Daily Express U.S. The 71 million Americans receiving Social Security benefits will see their 2.8% COLA increase following the normal January payment schedule.The 2026 COLA increase was announced in October 2025, and it gives recipients an average of $56 extra per month. As of September 2025, the average Social Security check for retirement beneficiaries was $1,956.55, according to Kiplinger.
Social Security benefits vary by state, because payments are based on average lifetime earnings, which differ across regions. Connecticut and New Jersey residents will see the largest increases in the U.S. for 2026, as stated by Daily Express U.S.
FAQs
Q1. Why is there no Social Security payment this week?Because January payments start later due to how the calendar dates fall.
Q2. When will Social Security payments begin in January 2026?
Payments will begin on January 14, based on the recipient’s birthday schedule.
