Millions of Americans are scheduled to receive Social Security payments this week as the Social Security Administration (SSA) continues its September payment schedule.
More than 75 million people receive some type of Social Security benefit, including retirement, spousal, survivor and disability benefits. While these payments are issued monthly, beneficiaries do not all receive their money on the same day.
The SSA uses a staggered schedule for many recipients. The date a person receives their payment generally depends on factors such as their date of birth and when they first began receiving benefits.
Payments
The next major Social Security payment date is Wednesday, September 9.
On that date, payments are scheduled for people receiving retirement, spousal or survivor benefits whose birthdays fall between the 1st and 10th of the month.
This payment date does not apply to Supplemental Security Income (SSI). SSI payments follow a separate schedule and are generally issued near the beginning of each month.
People who receive both SSI and another Social Security benefit should have received their September SSI payment on Thursday, September 3.
Schedule
Beneficiaries who do not receive a payment on September 9 may have another scheduled date later in the month.
The remaining September payment dates are:
| Payment Date | Birth Date |
|---|---|
| September 9 | 1st through 10th |
| September 16 | 11th through 20th |
| September 23 | 21st through 31st |
The schedule generally applies to Social Security retirement, survivor and spousal benefits paid according to the Wednesday schedule.
Some beneficiaries follow different payment rules. For example, people who received Social Security before May 1997 and certain people who receive both Social Security and SSI may have different payment dates.
Amounts
The amount a person receives from Social Security depends on several factors, particularly their lifetime earnings and the age at which they claim retirement benefits.
For 2026, the maximum monthly retirement benefit is $4,152 for someone who claims at full retirement age after earning at least the maximum taxable amount throughout their working career.
A worker who claims at age 62 in 2026 can receive a maximum of $2,969 per month. Someone who delays claiming until age 70 can receive a maximum of $5,181 per month.
The full retirement age for people turning 62 in 2026 is 67.
These maximum figures are not typical payments. Most Social Security recipients receive considerably less because benefit amounts are based on their individual earnings histories and claiming decisions.
Averages
Recent SSA data provides a clearer picture of what most beneficiaries receive.
As of July 2026, the average retired worker received $2,085.98 per month. Across all Social Security beneficiaries, including retirees, survivors and people receiving disability benefits, the average monthly payment was $1,940.08.
Average payments also vary by beneficiary category.
| Beneficiary Group | Average Monthly Benefit |
|---|---|
| Retired workers | $2,085.98 |
| All beneficiaries | $1,940.08 |
| Disabled workers | $1,635.27 |
| Non-disabled widows and widowers | $1,932.74 |
These averages illustrate why the maximum payment of $5,181 should not be viewed as a typical Social Security check.
Inflation
Another important Social Security issue this month is the potential 2027 cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is scheduled to release its August Consumer Price Index data on September 11. The report will provide the second of three monthly inflation readings used in the calculation of next year’s Social Security increase.
The Senior Citizens League currently estimates a 3.6% COLA for 2027. AARP has projected a slightly lower 3.5% increase.
Both estimates would be higher than the 2.8% COLA applied to Social Security benefits in 2026.
However, neither estimate is final. September’s inflation data will also be required before the SSA can determine the official adjustment.
Formula
The Social Security COLA is not calculated using the headline CPI figure that is often cited in monthly inflation reports.
Instead, the SSA uses the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, known as CPI-W.
The agency compares the average CPI-W readings for July, August and September with the average readings from those same three months of the previous year. The resulting increase is used to determine the following year’s COLA.
July was the first month of 2026 that directly counted toward the 2027 calculation. After the August data is released on September 11, only September’s inflation reading will remain outstanding.
The BLS is scheduled to release the September CPI data on October 14. That report is expected to provide the final piece of data needed for the 2027 COLA calculation, with the official adjustment expected to be announced that day.
January
The timing of the COLA can be confusing because the adjustment is associated with one year but first appears in payments received the following year.
The 2027 COLA applies to Social Security benefits payable for December 2026. Beneficiaries generally receive those adjusted payments beginning in January 2027.
For now, September’s regular payment schedule remains separate from the COLA calculation. Recipients scheduled for a payment this week should receive their regular September benefit based on their existing entitlement.
The September 9 payment is scheduled for Social Security retirement, survivor and spousal beneficiaries with birthdays from the 1st through the 10th. Those with later birthdays have September 16 or September 23 as their scheduled Wednesday payment dates.
At the same time, inflation data released this month will bring the 2027 COLA calculation closer to completion. Current estimates point to an increase of around 3.5% to 3.6%, but the official figure will depend on the final CPI-W data and the SSA’s calculation in October.
