Social Security September 2026 payments: Key dates, amount to know as 2027 COLA forecast points to a 3.5% increase

Millions of Americans receiving Social Security are eagerly waiting for September 2026 payment. They are also curious to know much their benefits could Social Security benefits could increase in 2027. The September payment will be made today (September 16), while estimates for the next Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) are coming into sharper focus as inflation data for the third quarter is released.

The official 2027 COLA has not yet been announced. Multiple outlets report that public projections for the 2027 cost-of-living adjustment have been landing near 3.5%–3.6%; CBS News says the 2027 COLA is now projected at 3.6%, while USA Today reported analysts tracking inflation see about a 3.5% raise.

ALSO READ:Japan’s sleep contest offers $14,000 prize: Who can enter, how to apply, October 5 date and rules


The Social Security Administration generally sends retirement and other Social Security payments according to a beneficiary's payment cycle. For most people who began receiving benefits after May 1997, the payment date depends on their day of birth:

Who gets their Social Security payment this week?

Most Social Security recipients receive benefits according to their birth date:

• Sept. 9: Birth dates from the 1st through the 10th
• Sept. 16: Birth dates from the 11th through the 20th
• Sept. 23: Birth dates from the 21st through the 31st

The official 2026 SSA payment calendar confirms this schedule. There is a separate schedule for some beneficiaries. People who were receiving Social Security before May 1997, as well as people who receive both Social Security and SSI, generally have their Social Security payment scheduled for the third day of the month, while SSI is paid on the first.

ALSO READ: HYROX admits mistake, changes rules after Australian athlete Joanna Wietrzyk was allowed to finish despite bowel incontinence

Social Security benefits, mostly paid to recipients who are older or retired, are typically paid on Wednesdays. However, if you began receiving Social Security before May 1997, you can expect payments on the third day of each month, unless it lands on a weekend or holiday.

Here are the dates for SSI payments for 2026, according to the SSA calendar:

• Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026 (Check for October 2026)
• Friday, Oct. 30, 2026 (Check for November 2026)
• Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2026 (Check for December 2026)
• Friday, Dec. 31, 2026 (Check for January 2027)

Didn't receive your Social Security payment on the scheduled date? Check with your bank first to see if there was a processing delay. If the payment is still missing, late or you believe it was stolen, contact the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or contact your local Social Security office.

What is the 2027 Social Security COLA forecast?

The 2027 COLA is expected to be higher than the 2.8% adjustment applied in 2026, based on current forecasts. The Senior Citizens League is currently projecting a 3.5% COLA for 2027. This is just a forecast and there has been no official confirmation yet. The actual adjustment is calculated using inflation data from the third quarter, and the final figure will depend on the relevant CPI-W readings.

Recent estimates from other analysts have also been in the roughly 3.4% to 3.6% range, showing that projections can vary before the official announcement.

Social Security recipients will have to wait until October for the official 2027 COLA. The adjustment is based on the average CPI-W for July, August and September compared with the corresponding figures from the previous year.

The final number is then announced by the Social Security Administration after the September inflation data is available. Current reporting puts the expected announcement date at October 14, 2026. The increase would generally begin appearing in Social Security payments in January 2027.

Why the 2027 increase matters

The COLA is intended to help Social Security benefits keep pace with inflation. The 2026 COLA was 2.8%, according to the Social Security Administration. A 3.5% adjustment would therefore represent a larger increase than beneficiaries received this year. But the size of the percentage increase does not necessarily mean every recipient will experience the same change in purchasing power. Housing, food, utilities, health care and other expenses can rise at different rates, while Medicare-related deductions can also affect the amount that ultimately reaches a beneficiary's bank account.