Social Security Payments to Go Out This Week as 2027 COLA Predictions Loom

The U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) is rolling out its first round of payments for September 2026 this week. Beneficiaries, including retirees, survivors, and individuals with disabilities, will receive their payments based on their birth dates. The first wave is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 9, for those with birth dates between Sept. 1 and 10. Subsequent payments will follow on Wednesday, Sept. 16, for those with birth dates between Sept. 11 and 20, and on Wednesday, Sept. 23, for those with birth dates between Sept. 21 and 31.

These payments come as the official 2027 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) is scheduled to be announced on Wednesday, Oct. 14. COLA is an annual adjustment designed to help recipients keep up with inflation and maintain their purchasing power for everyday items. According to the latest monthly predictions by the nonpartisan senior advocacy group, The Senior Citizens League (TSCL), the 2027 COLA could see a 3.6% increase, down slightly from their July forecast of 3.8%. If implemented, this 3.6% adjustment would increase the average monthly check for retired workers by $69.75, raising it from $1,937.53 to $2,007.28 starting in January 2027.

Although the projected 3.6% increase is lower than estimates from previous months, financial publication The Motley Fool noted that it would still be 0.8 percentage points higher than the 2.8% COLA implemented at the start of 2026, which raised monthly payments by approximately $56, and would represent the largest percentage increase in benefits since 2023. TSCL calculates these monthly forecasts based on the Consumer Price Index for urban wage earners and clerical workers (CPI-W), alongside Federal Reserve interest rates and national unemployment rates.

The SSA manages both the Social Security program and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. While Social Security benefits retired workers, individuals with disabilities, and survivors, the SSI program provides financial assistance to those with limited or no income and resources, individuals aged 65 or older, and those with qualifying disabilities. TSCL is expected to release another COLA prediction around the second week of September for a more accurate outlook.