Social Security in September: Payment Dates and New Increase for 2027

September will bring another round of Social Security payments for millions of retirees across the United States, with deposits scheduled throughout much of the month.

But payment dates will not be the only thing beneficiaries should watch: new inflation data will bring the government closer to calculating the increase they could receive in their checks during 2027.

• Why it matters: For many retirees, Social Security represents an essential source of income. Knowing when the money will arrive and how much benefits could increase next year can help households better plan their expenses.

Social Security Payment Dates for September 2026

The official Social Security Administration (SSA) calendar establishes that the first payment of the month will arrive on Tuesday, September 1, for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients.

On Thursday, September 3, Social Security beneficiaries who began receiving benefits before May 1997 will receive their payments. People who receive both Social Security and SSI follow a different schedule: SSI on September 1 and Social Security on September 3.

For all other beneficiaries, the payment schedule depends on their date of birth:

• Wednesday, September 9: Those born between the 1st and 10th.
• Wednesday, September 16: Those born between the 11th and 20th.
• Wednesday, September 23: Those born between the 21st and 31st.

This means the final regular Social Security payment in September 2026 will arrive one week before the end of the month.

New Social Security Increase for 2027 Takes Shape

As September payments move forward, another figure will capture retirees’ attention: the 2027 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).

The percentage has not yet been confirmed. The SSA needs inflation data from July, August and September to make the final calculation.

Specifically, the COLA is determined using the average Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) during the third quarter.

• The Senior Citizens League currently projects a COLA of approximately 3.6% for 2027, although that estimate could change with upcoming inflation data.
• The final percentage will be announced in October, after September inflation figures become available.

How Much Could Monthly Social Security Checks Increase?

If the COLA ultimately comes in at 3.6%, a retiree currently receiving $2,000 per month would see an estimated increase of about $72 per month, bringing the monthly check to approximately $2,072.

At the same percentage, a $2,500 benefit would increase by about $90 per month, while a $3,000 benefit would rise by approximately $108.

These examples are estimates only. They do not mean every beneficiary will receive those amounts, nor has a 3.6% COLA been confirmed.

For comparison, the COLA applied for 2026 was 2.8%, meaning the current estimate for 2027 would represent a larger increase if it holds.

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When Would the 2027 Social Security Increase Begin?

Although additional data needed to calculate the COLA will become available during September, Social Security payments in September 2026 will not include any additional increase related to 2027.

Once officially established, the new adjustment will apply to Social Security benefits for January 2027.

That means September will bring two particularly important numbers for retirees: the exact date of their next deposit and the latest inflation figures, which will determine how much their monthly Social Security benefit could increase next year.

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