Next week, Social Security beneficiaries across the U.S. are due to receive their February 2026 money, as the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) three-Wednesdays payment cycle continues.
On Wednesday, Feb. 18, the SSA is scheduled to issue benefits to certain Americans who receive retirement, disability or survivor pay.
How does the SSA’s three-Wednesdays cycle work?
Of 70.6 million people who claim retirement, disability or survivor benefits in the U.S., most receive their monthly payments on the second, third or fourth Wednesday in each month.
A recipient’s designated Wednesday depends on the date of birth of the worker whose Social Security taxes have accumulated the benefits entitlement.
If you claim Social Security benefits based on your own work record, your date of birth is used. If you receive benefits based on the employment history of a family member – such as a spouse or parent – the SSA uses the relative’s birthday.
Who is paid Social Security benefits on Feb. 18?
Feb. 18 is the second Wednesday in February 2026, so this payment date will cover birthdays that fall between the 11th and 20th of any month. February’s full three-Wednesdays payment cycle is as follows:
- Born on 1st-10th: Weds., Feb. 11
- Born on 11th-20th: Weds., Feb. 18
- Born on 21st-31st: Weds., Feb. 25
Who is paid benefits outside the three-Wednesdays cycle?
- Certain long-term Social Security recipients
Beneficiaries who started claiming retirement, disability or survivor benefits before May 1997 are typically paid on the third day of each month, regardless date of birth is. In February, these long-standing recipients were therefore due to be issued benefits on Tuesday, Feb. 3.
Recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) – a separate SSA scheme for low-income, low-resource Americans – are normally paid on the first of the month, no matter what day they were born on.
However, as Feb. 1 was a Sunday, this month’s SSI was sent out on the nearest working day before then: Friday, Jan. 30. March’s SSI will arrive slightly early, too: next month also begins on a Sunday, so payment is to be brought forward to Friday, Feb. 27.
Unlike the SSA’s retirement, disability and survivor programs, SSI is a purely needs-based scheme. Aimed at individuals who are over 65 or have a disability, SSI does not depend on prior Social Security-tax contributions.
- Dual recipients (SSI + regular Social Security)
Around 2.5 million Americans receive both SSI and one of the SSA’s retirement, disability or survivor benefits. For February, these twin beneficiaries were to be paid SSI on Jan. 30, before receiving Social Security on Feb. 3.
February payments outside the three-Wednesdays cycle:
- SSI: Fri., Jan. 30 (Feb. payment)
- Pre-May ’97 Social Sec.: Tue., Feb. 3
- Dual recipients: SSI on Jan. 30; Social Sec. on Feb. 3
- SSI: Fri., Feb. 27 (Mar. payment)
You can check out the SSA’s complete benefits-distribution calendar for 2026 here.
How much are monthly benefits?
As of January 2026 – the first month in which the SSA applied a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) – retired workers were paid a monthly average of $2,074.53, according to the agency. Retirement recipients of account for the vast majority of SSA beneficiaries in the U.S.: over three-quarters of the total of 72.5 million.
Disabled workers got $1,633.48 a month on average as of January, while survivors were paid a monthly average of $1,622.32. Average monthly SSI payments were $737.00.
How does Social Security send out benefits?
The SSA says it “in most cases” no longer issues benefits in paper-check format. Instead, beneficiaries have two ways of picking up payments electronically:
By supplying the SSA with their bank details, recipients can have their money transferred into their account by direct deposit. Social Security beneficiaries can update their banking info using the “my Social Security” online portal. SSI recipients should call 1-800-772-1213, the SSA says.
Alternatively, payments can be loaded onto the Direct Express Card, a debit card for federal disbursements made to people who do not have a bank account. You can sign up for Direct Express at 1-800-333-1795 or on the service’s website.
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