Social Security Payments Delayed: Millions of Americans will notice an empty mailbox this week as the Social Security Administration (SSA) pauses distributions. This scheduled gap occurs because January 2026 began on a Thursday. Since standard benefits follow a specific Wednesday-only cycle, the first round of checks arrives on January 14. Despite the wait, no funds are lost. All recipients will benefit from a 2.8% Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) starting with their first January payment.