First Social Security Payment of 2026: People who get Social Security will see important changes in 2026. These changes affect payment dates as well as monthly amounts and taxes and how benefits are delivered.
The first Social Security payment of 2026 will go out on January 2. This payment is for people who started getting benefits before May 1997 and for those who also receive Supplemental Security Income. Others will receive payments based on their birth dates. People born between the 1st and 10th will get paid on January 14. Those born from the 11th to the 20th will receive money on January 21. Anyone born from the 21st to the 31st will get paid on January 28.
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Benefits Rise
Social Security benefits will increase by 2.8% in 2026. This change adds about $56 more per month for the average person. The government calculates this increase using inflation data from late 2025. The goal is to help people keep up with rising prices.
However, many seniors may not feel the full benefit of this increase. Medicare Part B premiums are expected to rise by 11.6% next year. This jump could fully cancel out the extra Social Security money for many retirees. Experts also say older adults spend more on health care and daily needs, so the current formula does not fully match their real costs.
Social Security to Go Fully Digital
Social Security payments will be fully digital in 2026. The agency stopped sending paper checks in September. People now receive payments through direct deposit or a Direct Express card. The Social Security Administration is also reducing staff at local offices and shifting support to phone services.
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The agency updated its website with new tools, including a chatbot and a feature that lets people view their Social Security number online. Officials say these changes will cut wait times, lower fraud, and reduce paperwork. Still, advocates worry these fast changes may confuse seniors who lack internet access or computer skills.
A New Tax Break
A new tax deduction will help many seniors next year. People aged 65 and older can deduct $6,000 per person from their 2025 taxable income. This change lowers the amount of tax paid on Social Security benefits. Seniors can also claim this new deduction along with the existing standard deduction. The benefit begins to fade for people earning over $75,000.
Lawmakers also proposed other changes that could affect benefits in 2026. One bill suggests adding $200 per month to Social Security payments from January through June to help with rising grocery and drug costs. The Trump administration has said it will not cut Social Security or raise the retirement age. Still, officials proposed other changes that may remove hundreds of thousands of people from Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance.
