Sat Nov 29 22:40:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a news article based on the text you provided:

Summary:

The Social Security Administration (SSA) will be issuing Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments for January 2026 one day early, on December 31, 2025, due to January 1st being a federal holiday. This payment will include the 2.8% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) increase for 2026. Regular Social Security payments, however, will not be affected and will be disbursed on their normal schedule in January, also reflecting the COLA increase. The COLA increase will result in an average Social Security increase of $56 monthly for a total of $2,071 per month, and an average SSI increase of $27 monthly, for a total of $994 per month. Seniors rely on Social Security payments to maintain financial wellness.

News Article:

Early SSI Payments Coming in December for January 2026; Regular Social Security Unaffected

Washington D.C. – Retirees receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) can expect a slightly earlier holiday gift this year. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced that SSI payments for January 2026 will be disbursed on December 31, 2025, due to January 1st being a federal holiday.

This early payment will also include the highly anticipated 2.8% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) increase, designed to help seniors keep pace with rising costs. The SSA estimates that approximately 7.5 million people will receive their SSI payment on December 31st.

“Seniors rely on Social Security payments to maintain their financial wellness. Any delay can cause significant anxiety.” said a representative of the SSA.

While SSI recipients will see their January benefits early, those receiving regular Social Security payments will not be affected. Social Security payments are distributed throughout the month based on the recipient’s birthdate, and no payments are scheduled for January 1st. Therefore, regular Social Security payments will be distributed according to the normal schedule in January 2026, also reflecting the 2.8% COLA increase.

The COLA increase is expected to boost the average Social Security income by roughly $56 per month, bringing the average payment to $2,071 per month. SSI recipients will see an average increase of $27 per month, for a total of $994 per month.

The SSA reminds all beneficiaries to check their accounts carefully in January to ensure the COLA increase has been applied correctly.

Read More