Per the Social Security Administration’s official payment calendar, January’s benefits have now been sent out, across five separate distribution dates. Before the month is over, however, the agency is due to make a start on its payment schedule for February.
Who gets paid first for February 2026?
On Friday, Jan. 30, recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) will be the opening SSA beneficiaries to pick up their February payments. The program’s more than seven million beneficiaries would typically get their money on Feb. 1, but as the month begins on a Sunday, payment has been brought forward to the nearest working day.
When does February’s three-Wednesdays cycle kick in?
Of the 70.5 million Americans who benefit from the SSA’s retirement, survivor or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) programs, most will be paid on one of three days in February: the month’s second, third or fourth Wednesday.
A recipient’s designated Wednesday depends on the date of birth of the worker whose Social Security taxes have accumulated the benefits entitlement:
- Born on 1st-10th of any month: Weds., Feb. 11
- Born on 11th-20th of any month: Weds., Feb. 18
- Born on 21st-31st of any month: Weds., Feb. 25
Who gets retirement, SSDI or survivor pay outside the three-Wednesdays cycle?
- Certain long-term beneficiaries
The three-Wednesdays system is not used for recipients of retirement, SSDI or survivor pay who signed up for any of these benefits before May 1997. In February, these long-term SSA beneficiaries are to be paid on Tuesday, Feb. 3, regardless of their date of birth.
On Feb. 3, retirement/SSDI/survivor benefits will also be issued to anyone who combines these payments with SSI. A program for low-income individuals who are over 65 or have a disability, SSI has nearly 7.34 million beneficiaries – of which around 2.5 million are dual recipients.
Unlike retirement, SSDI and survivor benefits, SSI is a solely needs-based scheme. It does not depend on recipients’ payment of Social Security taxes.
Social Security and SSI – every payment date for February 2026 benefits:
Retirement, SSDI and survivor
- Tues., Feb. 3: Pre-May ’97/dual recipients
- Weds., Feb. 11: If born on 1st-10th
- Weds., Feb. 18: If born on 11th-20th
- Weds., Feb. 25: If born on 21st-31st
Supplement Security Income
Are any other benefits on the SSA’s February schedule?
Yes: After the three-Wednesdays cycle concludes on the 25th, the SSA will still have one final round of payments to make in February. As Mar. 1 is a Sunday, that month’s SSI is to be issued on the final business day in February: Friday 27th.
You can take a look at the SSA’s complete benefits-payment schedule for 2026 in this online calendar.
How much are monthly retirement, survivor, SSDI and SSI benefits?
According to the most recent figures published by the SSA, retired workers got $2,071.30 a month on average as of December. Disabled workers were paid $1,633.19 a month on average, and recipients of survivor benefits were issued an average of $1,620.95 a month. SSI recipients got a monthly average of $714.53.
However, January’s benefits were the first to include the SSA’s 2026 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). Last fall, the agency revealed that recipients of its retirement, SSDI and survivor benefits, as well as SSI beneficiaries, were to be given a 2.8% pay rise.
For retired workers, who represent nearly three-quarters of the SSA’s benefits recipients, this will mean an average monthly increase of $56, the agency has said.
Would a government shutdown affect Social Security and SSI payments?
Amid a standoff in Congress over funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the U.S. government is danger of partially shutting down. This will happen if the Senate does not pass an already House-approved appropriations package by the end of Jan. 30.
This would be the second shutdown since President Donald Trump returned to the White House a year ago. Between Oct. 1 and Nov. 12, the federal government endured a stoppage that lasted for a record-breaking 43 days.
As was the case last fall, however, SSA beneficiaries’ monthly payments will continue to arrive as normal during a shutdown. In a recent contingency plan, the agency stressed its commitment to uninterrupted benefits, pledging to “continue activities critical to […] ensure accurate and timely payment“.
How does the Social Security Administration send out benefits payments?
The SSA offers two electronic payment methods:
- Recipients can have their benefits paid into their bank account by direct deposit
- Benefits can be loaded onto the Direct Express Card, a debit card for federal payments made to people who do not have a bank account
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