Social Security Payments for February

SOCIAL SECURITY PAYMENTS FOR FEBRUARY: WHAT'S NEW?

By Charles W. Forsythe, The Forsythe Firm, Huntsville, AL

Social Security payments follow a normal schedule in February and will have the recently approved 2026 cost-of-living (COLA) increase.

The Social Security benefits– paid mostly to recipients who are older or retired – are typically paid on Wednesdays. On the second Wednesday of the month, payments are issued for beneficiaries whose birthday falls between the first and 10th days of the month (this month, that lands on Jan. 14), according to  Those born between the 11th and 20th get paid on the third Wednesday (Jan. 21) of the month; those born after the 20th of the month are paid on the fourth Wednesday of the month (Jan. 28), according to the SSA calendar.  Social Security recipients who began getting benefits before May 1997 are paid on the third day of each month.

Starting in 2026, Social Security payments will be slightly bigger, thanks to a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, increase. Payments will rise by about $56, on average, per month, according to the Social Security Administration.

One note:  The standard  Part B Medicare premium for 2026 is $202.50 per month, which is deducted from your payment each month.  Some beneficiaries who have unusually high incomes will pay a higher Medicare premium.

Social Security uses the 2025 federal income tax return  (based on 2024 income) to determine the Medicare Part A premium for 2026.   If that is not available, they will use income reported for 2023.

MEDICARE  MONTHLY PART A PREMIUMS FOR 2026 BASED ON 2024 INCOME:

Up to 109,000                                       $202.50

Over 109,000  to $137,000               $284.10

Over 137,000 to  $171,000                 $405.80

Over $171,000 to $205,000              $527.50

Over 205,000 to below $500,000  $649.20

$500,000 or more                                $689.90