The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit payments will be distributed twice in August - on Friday, Aug 1 and on Friday, Aug. 29. The second August payment is scheduled because the first day of September lands on a holiday - Labor Day.

As such, the way inflation trends in August will have a huge impact on next year's Social Security raise. Similarly, in mid-August, the Bureau of Labor Statistics is set to release its CPI-W data from July. So that should give an even stronger clue as to what might be in store for 2026.

When you receive your check depends on how long you have been collecting Social Security and your date of birth. Note that SSI recipients get two checks this month and none the next