Social Security starts mailing cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) notices in early December, according to the Social Security Administration in its early-December mailing update. The Social Security Administration notes in its 2026 COLA press release that paper recipients receive mail during December. People with a my Social Security account can often see the same notice online in late November to early December. Mailed letters arrive on different days, so two people in one household may not receive them together.
Table of Contents
- Who receives a December letter?
- Can you see the amount online earlier?
- What does the new notice show?
- What should you do if the letter is late?
Who receives a December letter?
Retirement, survivors, and disability beneficiaries receive December COLA notices by mail. Supplemental Security Income recipients and representative payees are also included in the mailing. The Social Security Administration spreads the mailings throughout December.
That staggered schedule means delivery day varies by person and household. A retired couple at one address may therefore get letters days apart. One early arrival does not mean the other letter is lost.
Can you see the amount online earlier?
Online viewing is available in late November to early December for my Social Security accountholders. Paperless delivery requires both an account and opting out of paper notices. The Social Security Administration gives cutoff dates in its online-notice FAQ: an account by Nov. 19, 2025 for the 2026 cycle and by Nov.
18, 2026 for the 2027 cycle. Those dates control online access for each cycle. Text or email alerts can notify account holders when new mail arrives. The Message Center also shows the Medicare premium amount in late November.
📨 Get Free Medicare Guides Alerts
Free · No spam · Unsubscribe anytime
- Create a my Social Security account before the cycle cutoff
- Choose paperless notices and keep contact details current
- Check the Message Center in late November for the notice and Medicare premium
What does the new notice show?
The mailed notice is a simplified one-page letter. It uses plain, personalized language rather than dense program terms. It states the exact dates and dollar amounts for the new benefit.
It also lists any deductions taken from that benefit. Retirees can match the new payment amount against the stated start date. They can also see whether a Medicare or other deduction changed the net amount.
What should you do if the letter is late?
The Social Security Administration asks beneficiaries to wait until January before contacting it about a missing mailed notice. December mail volume and staggered sending explain many short delays.
Online access has limits. Representative payees, people with foreign mailing addresses, and people paying higher Medicare premiums because of income cannot get the online COLA notice at this time. If you are in one of those groups, watch the mailbox through December and hold questions until January.
You Might Also Like
- Social Security COLA 2027 Estimate: What Retirees Should Know
- What Is the Downside of a Larger Social Security COLA?
- How Does Social Security Count Toward Your Retirement Income?