Millions of Americans will receive Social Security payments this week, with beneficiaries born on the 11th–20th scheduled for Wednesday, September 16. The SSA pays most recipients on a Wednesday schedule based on birth date, though there are exceptions for pre-May 1997 beneficiaries and those receiving both Social Security and SSI. The 2026 maximum monthly retirement benefit is $5,181 at age 70, while the average retired-worker benefit was $2,085.98 in July 2026. New inflation data point to a likely 2027 COLA of 3.4%–3.6%, but Medicare Part B premium changes could reduce the net increase.
Social Security Update: Payments Up to $5,181 Arrive This Wednesday; 2027 COLA Forecasted at 3.4%–3.6%
Stock image: a Social Security card lies with U.S. dollar bills and Treasury checks.
Millions of Americans are due to receive Social Security payments this week, with individual checks of up to $5,181 scheduled for beneficiaries whose birthdays fall between the 11th and 20th of any month. The Social Security Administration (SSA) will issue these checks on Wednesday, September 16.
About 75 million people receive Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The SSA generally pays benefits based on the recipient's day of birth: those born on the 1st–10th are paid on the second Wednesday of the month; those born on the 11th–20th are paid on the third Wednesday; and those with birthdays on the 21st–31st are paid on the fourth Wednesday.
Exceptions: People who began receiving Social Security before May 1997, and beneficiaries who receive both Social Security and SSI, typically get Social Security payments on the third of the month rather than according to the Wednesday schedule. SSI payments are generally paid on the first of the month. The SSA asks recipients who do not receive an expected payment to wait three working days before contacting the agency.
The amount a retiree receives depends on lifetime earnings and the age at which they claim benefits. For workers who consistently earned at or above the Social Security taxable maximum, the SSA lists the 2026 maximum monthly retirement benefits as $2,969 (if claimed at age 62), $4,152 (at full retirement age), and $5,181 (if benefits begin at age 70). Most retirees receive far less: the SSA's Monthly Statistical Snapshot shows the average retired-worker benefit was $2,085.98 per month in July 2026, and the average across all beneficiaries (retirees, survivors and disability recipients) was $1,940.08.
COLA Outlook After August Inflation Data
New inflation data have sharpened forecasts for the 2027 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). On September 11 the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) rose 3.5% year-over-year through August, with an index level of 328.481 (July's CPI-W was 327.104). Two of the three monthly figures used to calculate the 2027 COLA are now known.
Current forecasts place the 2027 COLA roughly between 3.4% and 3.6%, higher than the 2.8% increase applied for 2026. Forecasts include a 3.4% estimate from the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a 3.5% estimate from independent analyst Mary Johnson and the Senior Citizens League, and a 3.6% estimate from AARP. Applied to the SSA's average retired-worker benefit of $2,085.98, this range would mean an increase of about $71–$75 per month before deductions.
The final COLA depends on September's CPI-W reading, which the BLS will publish on October 14; the SSA compares the average CPI-W for July, August and September to the corresponding third-quarter average from the previous year and typically announces the official COLA that same day.
Important caveat: The COLA is a gross increase. Many beneficiaries have Medicare Part B premiums deducted directly from their Social Security checks, and an increase in the Part B premium for 2027 could offset part of the COLA. The net change to a recipient's spendable income will depend on each person's benefit amount and the finalized 2027 Part B premium.
Recipients with questions about payment timing, eligibility, or projected COLA impacts should consult the SSA website or their local SSA office for official guidance.
Image note: Stock image shows a Social Security card alongside U.S. dollar bills and Treasury checks.
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