Social Security May 2026 Payment Schedule: First Checks Land May 13

3 days ago
2 min read

The Social Security Administration is sending out its first wave of May 2026 payments this week. Beneficiaries with early-month birthdays are first in line, while attention is already shifting to the upcoming 2027 cost-of-living adjustment announcement.

Social Security May 2026 Payment Schedule

Checks are scheduled on Wednesdays throughout May 2026, with the first wave hitting bank accounts on May 13. The schedule is based on the birth dates of recipients, including retired workers, disabled workers, and survivors.

Here is the full May 2026 payment schedule:

Wednesday, May 13: Birth dates between the 1st and 10th of any month
Wednesday, May 20: Birth dates between the 11th and 20th of any month
Wednesday, May 27: Birth dates between the 21st and 31st of any month

If a payment does not arrive on the scheduled date, the SSA recommends waiting three additional business days before contacting their office.

Memorial Day Office Closures

Social Security offices nationwide will be closed Monday, May 25, in observance of Memorial Day. Office hours, phone numbers, and services can be located through the SSA office locator on the agency's website.

2027 COLA Forecasts

The 2027 cost-of-living adjustment will be officially announced in October 2026, but early forecasts are already in.

"Based on the latest CPI data, released this morning, TSCL predicts that Social Security's 2027 Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) will be 2.8%, the same as the 2026 COLA of 2.8%," TSCL wrote on April 10. "The average benefits check for retired workers would increase by $56.69, from $2,024.77 to $2,081.46."

The forecast may shift higher. The most recent forecasts put Social Security's 2027 cost-of-living adjustment between 2.8% and 3.1%. Inflation is accelerating and could remain elevated through the end of the year due to the Iran conflict. A 3.8% COLA in 2027 would mean an extra $79 in monthly benefits for the average retired worker.

How the COLA Is Calculated

The COLA is determined by comparing CPI-W inflation data from the third quarter of one year to the third quarter of the next. CPI-W inflation measured 2.2% in January and February, but accelerated to 3.3% in March as energy prices spiked due to the Iran conflict.

2026 Social Security Changes in Effect

The 2026 COLA already added 2.8% to monthly checks. Other current thresholds include:

Taxable maximum earnings: $184,500
Earnings limit under full retirement age: $24,480 (with a $1 deduction for every $2 earned over)
Earnings limit in the year of reaching full retirement age: $65,160 (with a $1 deduction for every $3 earned over)
No earnings limit for workers who are at full retirement age (67) or older for the full year

The standard Medicare Part B premium rose in January from $185 to $202.90, a 9.7% jump.

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