India, Jan. 5 -- No Social Security payments are being issued this week, according to the Social Security Administration's (SSA) calendar. Starting this month, many beneficiaries will begin receiving their 2026 payments, which include a permanent 2.8 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) designed to help recipients keep pace with rising living costs.

For most Social Security beneficiaries, payments are scheduled based on teir birth date. Exceptions include individuals who began receiving benefits before May 1997 or those who also receive Supplemental Security Income. SSI is a federal program that provides monthly support to people who are blind, have disabilities, or are adults 65 and older who meetcertain income and asset limits. The...