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KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Social Security beneficiaries will receive a 2.8% increase in their payments next year, and a new tax deduction will lower the tax burden for many seniors.
- The Social Security Administration has begun implementing modernization changes to the agency, including all digital payments and a transition away from in-person field offices.
If you’re collecting Social Security payments next year, there are several changes to the program that will affect your 2026 benefits. Here’s what you need to know.
The first Social Security check of 2026 will be issued on Jan. 2 for beneficiaries who started collecting Social Security payments before May 1997, as well as those who also receive Supplemental Security Income.
Retirement, spousal, and survivor benefits will be paid on Jan. 14 to those born between the first and 10th of any month. Benefits for those born between the 11th and 20th of any month will be distributed on Jan. 21, and those with a birthday between the 21st and 31st of any month will receive their payments on Jan. 28.
Why This Matters to You
The Social Security program is a critical foundation for the U.S. economy. It benefits more than 70 million Americans and helps drive consumer spending, as most of the payments are spent on food, housing, and health care.
Your Benefits Will Grow By 2.8% Next Year
The annual cost-of-living adjustment for 2026 Social Security benefits will be 2.8%, or about $56 more per month, starting in January.
This increase in benefits is calculated based on inflation during the third quarter of 2025, and is intended to help beneficiaries keep pace with rising costs. However, experts say the 2026 COLA will not be enough for many seniors.
In particular, the cost of premiums for Medicare Part B, the federal health insurance used by millions of Americans who are disabled or receive Social Security payments, is expected to rise by 11.6% next year. This increase will completely wipe out the beneficiaries’ 2026 COLA increase.
On top of that, Social Security experts and advocates note that seniors generally have higher expenses than the average worker, which means the formula used to calculate the annual COLA doesn’t accurately reflect the rising costs that most of them face.
Everything Will Be Digital
The Social Security Administration has taken several steps this year to modernize its systems and payments, and that will continue into the new year.
At the end of September, the SSA transitioned to completely digital payments and has completely stopped issuing physical Social Security checks. Beneficiaries who previously received physical payments can opt to get their payments via a direct deposit or a Direct Express card.
The modernization changes have also included shrinking staff at in-person field offices, and will instead have that staff support the agency’s 800-number. Updates to the Social Security website include a chatbot and a feature that allows Americans to view their Social Security number digitally, among others.
These updates, the agency said, will lower wait times on the phone and in field offices, improve fraud detection, and reduce paperwork and mailing costs. However, Social Security beneficiary advocates say the rapid pace at which these changes have been implemented could confuse some beneficiaries and disrupt benefits for those who lack access to high-speed internet and computers.
A New Tax Break For Beneficiaries
A new tax deduction for Americans 65 years and older will lower next year’s tax bill for many Social Security beneficiaries, giving their budgets more wiggle room.
The additional deduction for seniors is intended to mitigate the federal income taxes that beneficiaries must pay on their Social Security benefits, allowing them to deduct $6,000 per individual from their 2025 taxable income. This will lower their overall tax burden when they file their taxes in April.
In the 2026 tax filing season, seniors can take both the new deduction as well as the additional standard deduction that’s already provided for seniors under existing law. The new deduction phases out for taxpayers with a modified adjusted gross income over $75,000.
Proposed Changes To Watch For In 2026
There were a few more proposed changes put forward this year that could go into effect in 2026. Some of these proposals would increase payments, while others would reduce or eliminate benefits for certain individuals.
To help seniors cope with the increasing costs of essentials like prescription drugs and groceries, a bill was introduced to the Senate in October that would raise Social Security payments by $200 a month from January to June 30.
The Trump administration has promised not to cut Social Security, and said it is not planning to raise the retirement age for the program. However, the White House has proposed other changes to the program that could result in hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries being cut from the Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance programs.
