Key Takeaways
- The distribution of Social Security payments follows a similar schedule each year.
- Payment dates are generally based on the beneficiary’s birth date.
- More than 74 million Social Security and Supplemental Security Income beneficiaries have had their payments increased by 2.8% in 2026.
The Social Security Administration follows a general schedule for mailing out checks to its more than 74 million beneficiaries.
Most beneficiaries are paid according to their birth date and typically receive their payments on the second, third, or fourth Wednesday of each month. Those who began receiving retirement, spousal, or survivor benefits before May 1997 will typically receive their payments on the third of every month.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a program that provides additional income for people with disabilities and adults aged 65 and older with limited or no income, is distributed separately from Social Security benefits on the first of every month. However, SSI payments may be distributed at the end of the preceding month if the first day of the month lands on a holiday or a weekend.
Social Security payments in 2026 are 2.8% higher than in 2025, due to an adjustment for inflation. Here’s a breakdown of the remaining benefit payment dates in 2026.
January
- Jan. 21 – Benefits will be paid to those with birthdays between the 11th and the 20th of any month.
- Jan. 28 – Benefits will be paid to those with birthdays between the 21st and the 31st of any month.
- Jan. 30 – SSI payments for February will be issued.
February
- Feb. 3 – Benefits will be paid to those who have been collecting since before May 1997.
- Feb. 11 – Benefits will be paid to those born between the first and the 10th of any month.
- Feb. 18 – Benefits will be paid to those with birthdays between the 11th and the 20th of any month.
- Feb. 25 – Benefits will be paid to those with birthdays between the 21st and the 31st of any month.
- Feb. 27 – SSI payments for March will be issued.
March
- March 3 – Benefits will be paid to those who have been collecting since before May 1997.
- March 11 – Benefits will be paid to those born between the first and the 10th of any month.
- March 18 – Benefits will be paid to those with birthdays between the 11th and the 20th of any month.
- March 25 – Benefits will be paid to those with birthdays between the 21st and the 31st of any month.
April
- April 1 – SSI payments will be issued.
- April 3 – Benefits will be paid to those who have been collecting since before May 1997.
- April 8 – Benefits will be paid to those born between the first and the 10th of any month.
- April 15 – Benefits will be paid to those with birthdays between the 11th and the 20th of any month.
- April 22 – Benefits will be paid to those with birthdays between the 21st and the 31st of any month.
May
- May 1 – SSI payments will be paid. Retirement benefits will also be paid to those who have been collecting since before May 1997.
- May 13 – Benefits will be paid to those born between the first and the 10th of any month.
- May 20 – Benefits will be paid to those with birthdays between the 11th and the 20th of any month.
- May 27 – Benefits will be paid to those with birthdays between the 21st and the 31st of any month.
June
- June 1 – SSI payments will be paid.
- June 3 – Benefits will be paid to those who have been collecting since before May 1997.
- June 10 – Benefits will be paid to those born between the first and the 10th of any month.
- June 17 – Benefits will be paid to those with birthdays between the 11th and the 20th of any month.
- June 24 – Benefits will be paid to those with birthdays between the 21st and the 31st of any month.
July
- July 1 – SSI payments will be paid.
- July 2 – Benefits will be paid to those who have been collecting since before May 1997.
- July 8 – Benefits will be paid to those born between the first and the 10th of any month.
- July 15 – Benefits will be paid to those with birthdays between the 11th and the 20th of any month.
- July 22 – Benefits will be paid to those with birthdays between the 21st and the 31st of any month.
- July 31 – SSI payments for August will be issued.
August
- Aug. 3 – Benefits will be paid to those who have been collecting since before May 1997.
- Aug. 12 – Benefits will be paid to those born between the first and the 10th of any month.
- Aug. 19 – Benefits will be paid to those with birthdays between the 11th and the 20th of any month.
- Aug. 26 – Benefits will be paid to those with birthdays between the 21st and the 31st of any month.
September
- Sep. 1 – SSI payments will be paid.
- Sep. 3 – Benefits will be paid to those who have been collecting since before May 1997.
- Sep. 9 – Benefits will be paid to those born between the first and the 10th of any month.
- Sep. 16 – Benefits will be paid to those with birthdays between the 11th and the 20th of any month.
- Sep. 23 – Benefits will be paid to those with birthdays between the 21st and the 31st of any month.
October
- Oct. 1 – SSI payments will be paid.
- Oct. 2 – Benefits will be paid to those who have been collecting since before May 1997.
- Oct. 14 – Benefits will be paid to those born between the first and the 10th of any month.
- Oct. 21 – Benefits will be paid to those with birthdays between the 11th and the 20th of any month.
- Oct. 28 – Benefits will be paid to those with birthdays between the 21st and the 31st of any month.
- Oct. 30 – SSI payments for November will be issued.
November
- Nov. 3 – Benefits will be paid to those who have been collecting since before May 1997.
- Nov. 10 – Benefits will be paid to those born between the first and the 10th of any month.
- Nov. 18 – Benefits will be paid to those with birthdays between the 11th and the 20th of any month.
- Nov. 25 – Benefits will be paid to those with birthdays between the 21st and the 31st of any month.
December
- Dec. 1 – SSI payments will be paid.
- Dec. 3 – Benefits will be paid to those who have been collecting since before May 1997.
- Dec. 9 – Benefits will be paid to those born between the first and the 10th of any month.
- Dec. 16 – Benefits will be paid to those with birthdays between the 11th and the 20th of any month.
- Dec. 23 – Benefits will be paid to those with birthdays between the 21st and the 31st of any month.
- Dec. 31 – SSI payments for January 2027 will be issued.
