January 2027 is the month most San Antonio retirees will see the new 3.6% raise in their Social Security check for the first time — on Wednesday, January 13, 20, or 27, depending on your birthday. SSI is different this month: there is no SSI deposit dated in January at all. January’s SSI payment arrives early, on Thursday, December 31, 2026, because January 1 is a federal holiday, and that December 31 deposit is already at the new, higher rate. Here is every January 2027 payment date, the new amounts from the Social Security Administration, and one deadline in November that decides how early you can see your exact new amount. Checking your payment date is always free.
January 2027 Social Security & SSI payment dates
These dates follow the Social Security Administration’s official Schedule of Social Security Benefit Payments for 2027 (Publication 05-10031) and its weekend and holiday rules. Find your group and read across:
| Who gets paid | Payment date |
|---|---|
| SSI — January 2027 payment (paid early, with the 2027 COLA raise) | Thursday, December 31, 2026 |
| Social Security if you started before May 1997, or you get both Social Security and SSI — January payment (paid early) | Thursday, December 31, 2026 |
| Social Security — born on the 1st through the 10th | Wednesday, January 13, 2027 |
| Social Security — born on the 11th through the 20th | Wednesday, January 20, 2027 |
| Social Security — born on the 21st through the 31st | Wednesday, January 27, 2027 |
Your own date and amount are also shown in your my Social Security account — that is the safest source for your exact case. If you are still planning December, our December 2026 Social Security & SSI payment dates guide explains the two SSI deposits that month.
Why there is no SSI deposit in January — and why the 3rd-of-the-month group is also paid on December 31
SSI is normally paid on the 1st of the month. When the 1st falls on a weekend or a federal holiday, Social Security pays on the business day before. January 1, 2027 is New Year’s Day, so January’s SSI payment moves up to Thursday, December 31, 2026. It is January’s regular payment, not a bonus, and it is not a cut when nothing arrives in January itself. The next SSI payment after December 31 is Monday, February 1, 2027.
The group normally paid on the 3rd — people who started Social Security before May 1997, and people who get both Social Security and SSI — lands on December 31 too. January 3, 2027 is a Sunday, and the business days just before it are the New Year’s Day holiday and a weekend, so that payment also moves back to Thursday, December 31.
The new 2027 amounts: what the 3.6% COLA raise is worth
On October 14, 2026, the Social Security Administration announced that Social Security benefits and SSI payments will increase by 3.6 percent in 2027. From SSA’s official 2027 COLA fact sheet:
- SSI federal maximum, individual: $1,029 a month in 2027, up from $994.
- SSI federal maximum, couple: $1,544 a month, up from $1,491.
- Average retired worker: $2,170 a month, up from $2,095 — about $75 more a month on average.
- Average aged couple, both receiving benefits: $3,355 a month, up from $3,238.
Your own amount will differ — the raise is a percentage of your own benefit, and Medicare Part B premiums or other deductions can change what actually lands in your account. The raise is automatic. You do not need to apply, register, or pay anything to get it. Our Social Security COLA 2027 guide breaks down what the raise means for your check.
See your exact new amount early: the November 18 step
Social Security will post personal COLA notices in the my Social Security Message Center starting in late November — up to three weeks earlier than the paper notices mailed during December. There is a catch worth acting on now: if you do not already have a my Social Security account, SSA says you need to create one and enroll in paperless notices by November 18, 2026 to see your COLA notice online. Creating the account is free at ssa.gov/myaccount. If you prefer paper, do nothing — a simplified one-page notice with your exact dates and dollar amounts will be mailed to you in December.
Watch out for scams around this. SSA’s Office of the Inspector General warned on October 21, 2026 that scammers are using the COLA announcement to pretend they can “activate” or increase your raise for a fee, or to get you to change your direct deposit. Social Security will never charge for the COLA raise. Hang up, and check your real amount only in your own account or on your mailed notice.
How to plan January on these dates
- SSI households: budget the December 31 deposit as January’s money. It has to cover rent, utilities, and medicine across a 32-day stretch until February 1. Set January’s essentials aside before New Year’s spending.
- Wednesday groups: your raise arrives mid-to-late January. If you were born on the 21st through the 31st, your first higher check is January 27 — plan larger January bills around that date, not January 1.
- Know your food dates. Texas SNAP deposits run January 1–28 on the Lone Star Card schedule, based on the last two digits of your EDG number — see our January 2027 SNAP payment dates guide for your exact day.
- Fill the gaps free. San Antonio free food pantries can stretch a tight January budget while you wait for a later payday.
If your payment does not arrive
Check with your bank or credit union first — deposits sometimes post later in the day. If the payment still has not arrived, Social Security asks you to allow 3 extra mailing days after the scheduled date before calling. Then call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), weekdays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time.
Not sure what else you may qualify for? Checking is free
Many San Antonio seniors and disabled adults who get Social Security or SSI also qualify for help they have never applied for — SNAP food benefits, help paying Medicare premiums, utility help, and more. Our free Apply for Me help walks you through it and matches you with programs you may qualify for. It takes a few minutes, and checking your potential matches is free.
Check What You May Qualify For — Free Apply for Me Help
We do not submit government applications or complete paperwork for you. We help you find your potential matches and walk you through the steps.
Helpful links & phone numbers
- Social Security Administration (ssa.gov) — official payment schedules, SSI information, and your my Social Security account
- SSA 2027 COLA Fact Sheet — the official source for the $1,029 SSI maximum and $2,170 average retired-worker amount above
- SSA COLA information for 2027 — how the 3.6% raise works and when increased payments begin
- my Social Security account (ssa.gov/myaccount) — see your COLA notice from late November; create an account by November 18 to get it online
- SSA scam reporting (ssa.gov/scam) — report fake calls and texts about your benefits or the COLA raise
- Social Security by phone: 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) — payment questions and appointments, weekdays 8 a.m.–7 p.m. local time
- 2-1-1 Texas: dial 2-1-1 or call 877-541-7905 — free, confidential help finding food, utility help, and local assistance, 24/7
- Lone Star Card Help Desk: 1-800-777-7328 — Texas EBT card balance and SNAP deposit questions
- YourTexasBenefits.com — apply for SNAP and other Texas benefits, renew, and check your case
Frequently asked questions
Why is there no SSI payment in January 2027?
Because January 1 is a federal holiday. January’s SSI payment was moved early to Thursday, December 31, 2026, at the new higher rate. Your benefits have not been cut or paused — the next SSI payment is Monday, February 1, 2027.
When do I get my first Social Security check with the 3.6% raise?
On your normal January payday: Wednesday, January 13 if you were born on the 1st through the 10th, January 20 for birthdays on the 11th through the 20th, and January 27 for birthdays on the 21st through the 31st. People paid on the 3rd, and SSI recipients, see the raise first, on December 31, 2026.
How much is SSI in 2027?
The federal maximum is $1,029 a month for an individual and $1,544 for a couple, according to SSA’s 2027 COLA fact sheet. Your own payment can be lower based on your income and living situation.
How can I see my exact new benefit amount?
Create a free my Social Security account and enroll in paperless notices by November 18, 2026, and your COLA notice will appear in your Message Center starting in late November. Otherwise, a paper notice with your exact amount will be mailed to you during December.
♥ NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS
San Antonio Benefits is free for every family who uses it — and it stays free because neighbors chip in. If this guide helped you, please consider a small gift to help keep it running: donate here.
Gifts are not tax-deductible.
Free food, free rides, free clothes, free furniture and more — all in one place.
