Millions of Americans receiving Social Security benefits are set to receive their next monthly payment this week, with some retirees collecting checks worth as much as $5,181 per month depending on their earnings history and the age they began claiming benefits.
More than 70 million people across the United States receive Social Security benefits, including retirees, survivors and people with disabilities. Because of the scale of the program, the Social Security Administration sends payments out on a staggered monthly schedule.
When Are Payments Coming?
The next round of May payments is scheduled for Wednesday, May 27, and will go to beneficiaries born between the 21st and 31st of any month.
The payment calendar for June 2026 is as follows:
- Monday, June 1: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments.
- Wednesday, June 3: Social Security payments for those collecting SSI and those who have received retirement benefits since before May 1997.
- Wednesday, June 10: Social Security payments for those with birth dates between the 1st and 10th.
- Wednesday, June 17: Birth dates between the 11th and 20th.
- Wednesday, June 24: Birth dates between the 21st and 31st.
Recipients who do not receive their payment on the expected date are advised to wait up to three business days before contacting the SSA.
How Much Can Recipients Receive?
The amount retirees receive from Social Security depends on their lifetime earnings and the age at which they begin claiming benefits. Workers generally qualify for retirement benefits after earning 40 Social Security credits, which most people accumulate after around a decade in the workforce.
A worker retiring at full retirement age in 2026 could receive about $4,152 per month, while someone claiming at age 62 would receive around $2,969. Delaying benefits until age 70 could increase monthly payments to as much as $5,181.
Most retirees receive substantially less than the maximum amount. As of April 2026, the average monthly Social Security payment for a retired worker stood at $2,026.41.
COLA Forecasts Point to Bigger Increase in 2027
Social Security recipients receive yearly benefit increases through the Cost of Living Adjustment, commonly known as COLA. Early projections suggest the 2027 adjustment could exceed this year’s increase as inflation has accelerated again in recent months.
The Senior Citizens League has estimated the 2027 COLA could reach 3.9 percent, while independent Social Security analyst Mary Johnson has projected a 4.2 percent increase. Both forecasts are above this year’s 2.8 percent adjustment.
The annual COLA is calculated using the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, or CPI-W. Over the past 12 months, the CPI-W has risen 3.9 percent.
The SSA determines the adjustment by comparing average CPI-W readings from July, August and September with the same period a year earlier. If inflation rises, benefits increase by the same percentage, rounded to the nearest tenth of a percent.
How Much Would a Higher COLA Add?
Using the average retired worker benefit of $2,024.77 per month:
- A 3.9 percent COLA would raise monthly payments by about $78.96.
- A 4.2 percent COLA would increase monthly payments by roughly $85.04.
Proposed SSI Rule Change Could Affect Thousands
At the same time, some Supplemental Security Income recipients could face reduced benefits under a proposed SSA rule currently under review. SSI payments are for low-income seniors aged 65 and older and individuals with disabilities and blindness.
The SSA is considering changes to how household income and support are calculated for SSI eligibility. Under the proposal, some benefits would no longer count toward Public Income Maintenance classifications.
The proposed rule would remove Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits from qualifying income categories. According to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, a left-leaning think tank, up to 400,000 SSI recipients could see their benefits reduced or eliminated if the changes are implemented.
