About 7.3 million people who receive Supplemental Security Income will see two SSI deposits in December, and the second one will be bigger. The Social Security Administration’s 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment for 2027 reaches SSI recipients first, with increased payments beginning Dec. 31, 2026.
For people with disabilities who rely on SSI or Social Security Disability Insurance, the new year also brings higher monthly maximums and higher earnings limits for those who work. And there is a near-term date to note: Nov. 18, the agency’s deadline to sign up for paperless notices if you want to see your 2027 benefit letter online.
Why will SSI recipients get two payments in December?
SSI is normally paid on the first of the month. When that date falls on a weekend or a federal holiday, Social Security pays on the business day before.
Jan. 1, 2027, is New Year’s Day, a federal holiday, so the January 2027 SSI payment arrives on Thursday, Dec. 31, 2026. That is the payment that carries the 3.6% increase, according to the agency’s Oct. 14 announcement. The regular December payment arrives on Tuesday, Dec. 1.
The second December deposit is January’s money, not a bonus. Recipients should plan on no SSI payment arriving in January itself. The same calendar rule explains why November had none: Nov. 1, 2026, fell on a Sunday, so the November payment was sent on Friday, Oct. 30.
How much will SSI pay in 2027?
The maximum federal SSI payment rises to $1,029 a month for an eligible individual, up from $994, and to $1,544 for an eligible couple, up from $1,491, according to the agency’s 2027 fact sheet.
Those are maximums. Social Security reduces the monthly amount by a person’s countable income, and some states add their own supplement on top of the federal payment.
The SSI resource limits do not change: $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple. The SSI student exclusion, which lets young people in school keep some earnings without losing benefits, rises to $2,500 a month and $10,080 a year.
What changes for SSDI beneficiaries and people who work?
People who receive Social Security Disability Insurance get the same 3.6% increase, starting with benefits payable in January 2027. The agency estimates the average monthly benefit for all disabled workers will rise from $1,642 to $1,701.
The earnings thresholds that matter to disability beneficiaries who work also go up in 2027:
- Substantial gainful activity (non-blind): $1,770 a month, up from $1,690.
- Substantial gainful activity (blind): $2,950 a month, up from $2,830.
- Trial work period month: $1,270 a month, up from $1,210.
Substantial gainful activity is the earnings level Social Security uses to judge whether a person’s work activity is substantial. Earning at or above the trial work period amount counts as one of the months a beneficiary can test their ability to work. Beneficiaries with questions about how work affects their own benefits should contact Social Security directly.
When will my 2027 benefit notice arrive?
People with a personal my Social Security account can view their cost-of-living notice online starting in late November, up to three weeks before a paper notice would arrive, the agency said. Those without an account must create one and enroll in paperless notices by Nov. 18 to see the notice online.
Everyone else will get the notice by mail in December. Social Security says the 2027 notice is a simplified one-page letter showing the exact new benefit amount, payment dates and any deductions. For people on Medicare, the 2027 Part B premium amount will also appear in the my Social Security Message Center starting in late November.
Key Takeaways
- Social Security’s 3.6% COLA reaches about 7.3 million SSI recipients first, with the higher payment arriving Dec. 31, 2026.
- SSI recipients get two December deposits (Dec. 1 and Dec. 31) because Jan. 1 is a federal holiday; there is no separate January payment.
- The maximum federal SSI payment rises to $1,029 for individuals and $1,544 for couples in 2027; resource limits stay at $2,000 and $3,000.
- For working disability beneficiaries, the 2027 SGA limit is $1,770 a month ($2,950 if blind), and a trial work month is $1,270.
- Enroll in paperless notices at my Social Security by Nov. 18 to see your 2027 benefit notice online in late November.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are there two SSI payments in December 2026?
SSI is paid on the first of the month unless that day is a weekend or federal holiday. Jan. 1, 2027, is a holiday, so the January payment is sent on Dec. 31, 2026, in addition to the regular Dec. 1 payment.
How much is SSI in 2027?
The maximum federal SSI payment is $1,029 a month for an individual and $1,544 for a couple in 2027, according to the Social Security Administration. Actual payments can be lower because of other income, and some states add a supplement.
Did the SSI resource limit change for 2027?
No. The SSI resource limits remain $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple in 2027.
What is the 2027 substantial gainful activity amount?
For 2027, substantial gainful activity is $1,770 a month for non-blind disability beneficiaries and $2,950 a month for people who are blind.
Featured image: The Social Security Administration field office in downtown Corning, N.Y. Illustrative photo. (J. Passepartout, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
