How much bigger is your Social Security check in 2026? The official increase is 2.8%, and it applies to both retirement benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). * For a typical retired worker, that 2.8% works out to about $56 more per month — the average benefit rises from roughly $2,015 to $2,071. The exact dollar increase depends on your own benefit amount, but the percentage is the same for everyone: multiply your current monthly check by 1.028 to estimate your new one. * SSI recipients see a smaller flat increase because SSI pays a fixed federal rate rather than a percentage of career earnings. The new 2026 SSI federal payment standard is $994 a month for an eligible individual and $1,491 a month for an eligible couple. * The increase started showing up in the December 31, 2025 payment for SSI (which pays a month ahead) and in the January 2026 payment for standard Social Security retirement, survivor, and disability benefits. * One more number worth knowing if you're still working: the maximum amount of earnings subject to Social Security tax jumped to $184,500 in 2026, up from $176,100 — so higher earners will see more taken out of each paycheck this year. * None of this requires you to do anything. The increase is automatic and applied by the Social Security Administration; there's no application or form. If your new amount doesn't look right, SSA's my Social Security online portal shows your updated benefit letter.