Millions of Americans will receive their next Social Security payment this week, with some retirees eligible for checks worth up to $5,181.
The payments come as beneficiaries await another significant announcement on Wednesday: the annual Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), which will determine how much benefits increase by in 2027.
The announcement is expected to bring news of a bigger boost than the 2.8 percent adjustment implemented this year, with current forecasts predicting a rise between 3.5 and 3.6 percent.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) will issue its next round of October payments on Wednesday October 14 to recipients born between the 1st and 10th of any month.
Social Security retirement, survivor and disability benefits are generally distributed according to recipients' dates of birth. There are three remaining payment dates for October:
The schedule applies to most people who began receiving Social Security benefits after April 30, 1997.
Those who started receiving benefits before May 1997, or who receive both Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), generally receive their Social Security payments on the third of each month.
SSI recipients, meanwhile, received their October payments on October 1. SSI is a separate program providing financial assistance to eligible older people and those with disabilities who have limited income and resources.
If you find you have not received your payment on the scheduled date, the SSA advises waiting three additional mailing days before contacting the agency about a missing payment.
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How Much Can Recipients Receive?
The amount an individual receives from Social Security depends on a few factors, including their lifetime earnings, the age at which they begin claiming retirement benefits and their work history. The maximum monthly retirement benefits available to workers who begin claiming in 2026 are:
The maximum amounts assume a worker earned at least the maximum taxable earnings throughout their career, beginning at age 22. Most beneficiaries receive less than the maximum, with the average monthly benefit for retired workers currently being $2,087.52.
COLA Announcement Coming This Week
Social Security beneficiaries are also awaiting Wednesday's announcement of the 2027 COLA, which determines how much monthly benefits will increase to account for inflation in 2027.
The adjustment is calculated using the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), comparing average inflation readings from July, August and September with the same period a year earlier.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics is scheduled to publish September's inflation figures at 8:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday, October 14, and the SSA is to announce the COLA shortly afterwards.
Current estimates suggest that beneficiaries could receive their largest percentage increase since the inflation surge following the COVID-19 pandemic.
AARP has forecast a 3.6 percent increase, while The Senior Citizens League predicts 3.5 percent. Both projections exceed the 2.8 percent COLA implemented in January 2026 and the 2.5 percent increase in 2025.
For someone receiving the July average retired-worker benefit of approximately $2,086, a 3.5 percent increase would mean an extra $73 per month, bringing their monthly payment to roughly $2,159. A 3.6 percent adjustment would mean an increase of approximately $75, taking the payment to $2,161 a month.
The actual increase will depend on the final COLA and each recipient's benefit amount.
A rise of either 3.5 or 3.6 percent would be the largest since the 8.7 percent adjustment implemented in January 2023, when inflation was running at levels not seen for decades. That was followed by a 3.2 percent increase in 2024.
The annual adjustment is particularly important for retirees and people with disabilities who depend heavily on Social Security to cover essential expenses, including food, housing and healthcare.
However, a larger COLA also reflects higher inflation, meaning recipients may continue facing rising living costs despite receiving more money each month.
The new adjustment will take effect with Social Security benefits payable in January 2027.