Another installment of Social Security benefits for November is set to be distributed this week.
Why This Matters
About 70 million Americans, which includes retirees and individuals with disabilities, depend on the Social Security Administration (SSA) for their monthly income. Due to the program’s extensive scope, payments are made in a staggered manner each month rather than disbursing the entire amount on a single day.
What You Should Know
Typically, the payment date corresponds to one’s birthday. However, there are exceptions. Individuals who began receiving retirement, spousal, or survivor benefits prior to May 1997, or those on Supplemental Security Income (SSI), will see payments on different dates. SSI assists elderly individuals with limited resources and those who are visually impaired.
This Wednesday, November 26, benefits will be issued to people with birthdays from the 21st to the 31st of the month.
Looking ahead to December, payment dates will be:
- Monday, December 1st: Additional security income payments
- Wednesday, December 3rd: Social Security payments for those who also receive SSI.
- Wednesday, December 10th: For individuals born between the 1st and the 10th of each month.
- Wednesday, December 17th: For those born between the 11th and the 20th.
- Wednesday, December 24th: Applicable to individuals with birthdays from the 21st to the 31st.
If your payment hasn’t arrived by the expected date, it’s advisable to wait up to 3 business days before reaching out to SSA.
How Much is Social Security?
The benefit amount varies based on a person’s lifetime earnings and when they choose to start collecting. For example, if someone begins at age 62, which is the earliest possible age, they could receive up to $2,831 per month. If they wait until their full retirement age, currently set at 67, that amount grows to $4,018. Delaying until age 70 could mean a maximum of $5,108 per month.
As of August 2025, the average monthly benefit for retired workers was $2,008.31.
2026 COLA
As we approach the end of 2025, Social Security recipients are looking forward to a boost in their annual benefits.
The SSA announced in October a 2.8% increase for all beneficiaries in the upcoming year, known as the annual cost of living adjustment (COLA). This translates to roughly a $56 monthly increase for the average retiree receiving Social Security.
“Social Security is a promise kept, and annual cost-of-living adjustments are one way we work to ensure that benefits reflect today’s economic realities and continue to provide a foundation of security. Cost-of-living adjustments are a critical part of how Social Security fulfills its mission,” stated SSA Administrator Frank J. Bisignano.
The 2026 COLA will apply to all SSA programs, including retirement, spousal, survivor, and SSI, with increased payments beginning in January 2026.
