Quiet Social Security changes land for 2026
Several 'quiet' Social Security updates hit in 2026 — a 2.8% COLA, shifts to payment schedules, and tweaks to earnings limits for working retirees — all factors that can change rollover timing for boomers reported. Platforms that flag these shifts will likely see more informed rollover decisions.
Nearly 71 million Social Security beneficiaries will see an average monthly boost of about $56, the Social Security [Administration announced].ssa.gov The SSA’s 2026 payment calendar schedules benefits on the second, third and fourth Wednesdays according to birth‑date groups (1–10, 11–20, 21–31), while Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is paid on the 1st and legacy pre‑May‑1997 Social Security recipients are paid on the 3rd, per the agency’s 2026 payment schedule.ssa.gov The annual exempt amounts that trigger benefit withholding are $24,480 for beneficiaries under full retirement age and $65,160 for those reaching full retirement age in 2026, and SSA notes any withheld benefits are credited back later as higher payments.ssa.gov The OASDI taxable wage base rose to $184,500 for 2026, making the maximum employee Social Security (6.2%) contribution $11,439, according to SSA data.ssa.gov Withdrawals from IRAs and 401(k)s do not count as “earnings” for the Social Security earnings test, the AARP explains, but those distributions do feed into the IRS “combined income” calculation that can make up to 85% of benefits taxable under Publication 915.aarp.org Robinhood has been running IRA transfer/rollover match promos (including 2%–3% ACAT/transfer matches through April 30, 2026), while Charles Schwab and Fidelity publish dedicated rollover‑IRA onboarding pages and special‑offer sections to capture job‑switchers and retiring customers.fool.com
