Overview
- SSI recipients received their August payment early on Friday, July 31, because the first of the month fell on a Saturday.
- Retirement benefits are paid in three waves this month with the first round for people born on the 1st–10th arriving on Aug. 12 and remaining waves on Aug. 19 and Aug. 26.
- People can begin claiming retirement benefits as early as age 62 and maximum monthly payouts range from about $2,969 for the earliest claimers to $5,181 for those who delay to age 70.
- Beneficiaries received a 2.8% COLA in January 2026 that raised average checks by roughly $56 and independent groups currently forecast a 2027 COLA near 3.6–3.8% based on inflation measures.
- The Social Security Trustees project the retirement trust fund could be exhausted by 2032 which keeps legislative fixes and benefit changes likely and the SSA advises waiting three days after a missed payment before contacting local offices.