The first wave of Social Security payments for May will be sent out this week, but only for Michigan beneficiaries with early May birthdays.
Checks are always scheduled on Wednesdays, landing on May 13, 20 and 27 this month, according to the Social Security Administration. The schedule is based on the birth dates of the recipients — retired, disabled workers or survivors.
Looking ahead, the official Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2027 Social Security checks will be announced in October. The COLA is forecast to be 2.8% due to continuing inflation (the same as 2026), according to The Senior Citizens League’s most recent forecast — a nongovernmental advocacy group for seniors.
Here’s more on when to expect your Social Security money in May 2026.
Will my Social Security check be sent out on May 13?
Yes, beneficiaries with birth dates between the first and the 10th of May will receive a check on Wednesday, May 13.
Here’s the remaining SSA schedule for May 2026:
What should I do if I don’t get my Social Security payment?
According to the SSA, if you don’t receive your payment on the scheduled date, wait three days additional days, then call their office.
Will Social Security offices in Michigan be closed on Memorial Day 2026?
Yes. Offices in Michigan will be closed in observance of Memorial Day, Monday, May 25.
There are 48 offices in Michigan, and to find an office near you, recipients may use the office locator via the Social Security’s website by entering your zip code for office hours, numbers, available services and more.
What is the 2027 Social Security COLA forecast?
The 2027 COLA to Social Security is currently forecast to be 2.8% due to continuing inflation prices, according to The Senior Citizens League. If the SSA approves that rate increase, average payment for retired workers would go up by $58 per month in January 2027.
The 2027 COLA depends on inflation observed in 2026, so it could be a higher increase.
“It’s possible that the COLA comes in higher than current projections indicate. A lot depends on how inflation changes over the coming months,” The Motley Fool, a financial and investing advice company and USA TODAY content partner said on May 11. “The COLA calculation looks at average third-quarter inflation data, as measured by the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). If these numbers rise sharply, especially in July, August, and September, a larger COLA is certainly possible.”
The COLA will be officially announced in October.
What were the big Social Security changes in 2026?
There was a 2.8% COLA to Social Security and SSI payments, according to Social Security’s COLA Fact Sheet and American Association of Retired Persons.
Here are more details on the COLA increase FOR 2026, per the SSA:
Social Security 2026 calendar
Contact Sarah Moore @ smoore@lsj.com
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Will I get a Social Security payment this week? See current schedule
Reporting by Sarah Moore, USA TODAY NETWORK / Lansing State Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
