Update 26-02: January 2026 Social Security Payment Levels and Related Changes

Charts Handbook 

Date	References	Clerical	Implementation
2/09/26	ACWDL 25-22, 25-26, 25-29.	N/A	January 1, 2026

Background

The Department of Health Care Services has provided the annual Social Security payment levels and related value changes for 2026.

Changes

Effective January 1, 2026, the following values have been updated in their respective Chart Book tables: 

• Annual COLA for Unearned Income
• Medicare Part A and Part B Premiums and Deductibles
• Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA)
• Pickle Disregard Computation Chart
• SSI/SSP Payment Levels
• SSI Standard Allocation
• Presumed Maximum Value (PMV)
• Value of One-Third Reduction (VTR)
• Federal Benefit Rate (FBR)

CalSAWS

The related system changes were batch programmed on 12/13/2025.

Forms

The CW-CF-MC Limits Chart (SCD 2338) will be revised with the 2026 limits. 

 

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Department of Employment & Benefits Services

Contact Person(s): Manuel Garcia, BPIS, (408) 755-7540.