Social Security Latest: Benefits Worth up to $5,181 Being Paid This Week

This week, millions of Social Security beneficiaries in the United States are receiving their September payments. Over 70 million Americans receive Social Security benefits, including retirement, spousal, survivor, or disability benefits. Payments are staggered throughout the month based on beneficiaries' birth dates, with retirement, spousal, and survivor payments going out to those born between the 21st and 31st of any month on Wednesday, September 23.

However, individuals who started receiving benefits before May 1997 and those who receive both Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) typically get their payments at the beginning of each month.

The amount of Social Security a person receives depends on factors like their earnings history and the age at which they begin claiming benefits. For retirees, the maximum monthly retirement benefit in 2026 is $5,181 if they start receiving benefits at age 70, $4,152 at full retirement age, and $2,969 if they begin at age 62. However, most recipients do not receive the maximum amount available.

In July 2026, the average retired worker received $2,085.98 per month, while the average payment for all Social Security beneficiaries, including retirees, survivors, and disability recipients, was $1,940.08.

The upcoming month, October, holds significance for Social Security beneficiaries as the SSA will announce the annual cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, for 2027. The COLA aims to prevent benefits from losing purchasing power due to inflation. Current estimates suggest that benefits could increase by 3.4 to 3.6 percent, which is nearly a full percentage point higher than the 2.8 percent COLA increase in 2026.