The Social Security Administration (SSA) will send November’s first round of benefit payments on Tuesday, November 3. The deposit goes to people who began collecting before May 1997 and to those who receive both Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
If you are expecting that money, there is one thing to keep in mind: the 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) announced in October is not in this payment. We explain who gets paid, how much the checks can reach and when the raise really arrives. You can also check the four Social Security dates for November if your payment depends on your birthday.
Who gets paid on November 3?
According to the SSA’s payment calendar, two groups are in line for Tuesday’s deposit:
- People who started receiving Social Security before May 1997.
- People who receive both Social Security and SSI, whatever their birth date.
Anyone else who claimed in May 1997 or later is paid on a Wednesday based on their birthday, so this round does not apply to them. Those who collect both benefits already received the SSI part of November on Friday, October 30, because November 1 fell on a Sunday.
Tuesday is also Election Day, but it is not a federal holiday, so the payment stays on its regular date.
How much will they get?
The amount depends on your work history and the age at which you claimed. The SSA estimates the average retired worker collects $2,095 a month before the new COLA, while the average disabled worker gets $1,642.
The ceilings are much higher, though few people reach them. In 2026, the maximum for a worker who retires at full retirement age is $4,152 a month. It falls to $2,969 for someone who claims at 62 and rises to $5,181 for someone who waits until 70.
Why isn’t the 3.6% raise in this check?
The COLA applies to December benefits, and Social Security pays each month’s benefit the following month. That means November and December deposits still use 2026 amounts.
For this group the wait is short. After Tuesday, there is one more payment at the old amount, on Thursday, December 3. The next one comes on Thursday, December 31, because January 3 falls on a Sunday, and that is the first with the raise. You can see how it works in our January 2027 payment calendar.
The SSA estimates the average retirement check will go from $2,095 to $2,170 a month. Medicare premiums, which are usually deducted from the payment, can change what actually lands in your account.
What if the money doesn’t arrive?
Check your bank account first, since most benefits arrive by direct deposit. The SSA asks beneficiaries to wait three additional mailing days before contacting the agency about a missing payment.
If it still hasn’t shown up, you can call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 or check your payment details in your my Social Security account.
When is the next payment?
These are the remaining Social Security dates this month:
- Tuesday, November 10: birthdays from the 1st to the 10th. The date moves up a day because of Veterans Day.
- Wednesday, November 18: birthdays from the 11th to the 20th.
- Wednesday, November 25: birthdays from the 21st to the 31st.
Personalized COLA notices will start appearing online in late November, so you can see your exact 2027 amount before the first larger deposit. If you want more detail on this payment group, read how the third-of-the-month schedule works.
