Having completed April’s payment schedule this week, the U.S.’s Social Security Administration (SSA) is now gearing up to send out next month’s benefits.
Here’s what you need to know about May’s distribution timeline for Social Security pay – retirement, disability or survivor benefits – and Supplemental Security Income (SSI):
Who gets paid first in May 2026?
On Friday, May 1, three groups of beneficiaries will be the first to pick up their latest monthly payment:
A benefit with 7.3 million recipients in the U.S., SSI is paid out on the first day of each month.
Aimed at certain low-income individuals, SSI is separate from Social Security. Both are run by the SSA, but SSI differs as it is purely needs-based: eligibility is not dependent on a claimant’s work record.
- Some long-term Social Security recipients
May 1 is next month’s Social Security distribution date for recipients who started claiming before May 1997. They would normally get their benefits on May 3, but payment has been brought forward as this date falls on a Sunday.
- Double beneficiaries: Social Security + SSI
Social Security will also be paid two days early to the 2.52 million recipients who combine the program with SSI.
When is Social Security’s three-Wednesdays cycle in May 2026?
Most of the 70.9 million recipients of Social Security will get their retirement, disability or survivor benefits on the second, third or fourth Wednesday in May.
A recipient’s designated Wednesday depends on the birthday of the worker who has earned the entitlement:
- Born on 1st-10th of any month: Wednesday, May 13
- Born on 11th-20th of any month: Wednesday, May 20
- Born on 21st-31st of any month: Wednesday, May 27
How much are monthly Social Security and SSI benefits?
- Retired workers: $2,079.49
- Disabled workers: $1,634.51
- Survivor benefits: $1,624.37
- SSI benefits: $736.28
(Average monthly benefits, per SSA figures.)
How does the Social Security Administration pay benefits?
- Money can be paid into a beneficiary’s bank account by direct deposit
- Benefits can be loaded onto the Direct Express Card, a special debit card for federal payments
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