The Social Security Administration is warning retirees about an ongoing scam involving imposter emails.
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Of the more than 71 million Americans who receive regular Social Security payments, those receiving SSI can expect their May checks to arrive at the end of the week. Disability payments will be distributed later in the month.
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Here’s what to know about May’s payments and how to avoid the latest Social Security scam.
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2026 Social Security payment schedule: SSI
Those who qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) will receive their May payment on the first of the month. The SSA suggests that if you didn’t receive your payment on the expected date, allow three additional mailing days before contacting the agency; most arrive on time because 99% of beneficiaries are paid electronically.
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Here’s the full 2026 SSI schedule:
- Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025 (check for January 2026)
- Friday, Jan. 30, 2026 (check for February 2026)
- Friday, Feb. 27, 2026 (check for March 2026)
- Wednesday, April 1, 2026 (check for April 2026)
- Friday, May 1, 2026 (check for May 2026)
- Monday, June 1, 2026 (check for June 2026)
- Wednesday, July 1, 2026 (check for July 2026)
- Friday, July 31, 2026 (check for August 2026)
- Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026 (check for September 2026)
- Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026 (check for October 2026)
- Friday, Oct. 30, 2026 (check for November 2026)
- Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2026 (check for December 2026)
What is Supplemental Security Income?
Supplemental Security Income provides monthly benefits to those with limited income or resources who are 65 or older, blind or have a qualifying disability. Children with a qualifying disability can also get SSI, according to the SSA’s website.
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In general, adults who qualify for SSI do not have monthly wages above $2,019.
Those who may be eligible for SSI can begin the application process online, in person at their local Social Security office, or by calling 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time, Monday through Friday.
When will I get my May 2026 Social Security payment?
The Social Security Administration’s yearly distribution schedule for 2026 is available online so you can plan your budget. Regular Social Security retirement benefits are being sent out on the SSA’s schedule, with some arriving later this week.
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Those who started receiving benefits before May 1997 — or who receive both Social Security and Supplemental Security Income — should have received their payments on Friday, April 3. For all other beneficiaries, the final round of payments arrives this week.
For retirees and disability beneficiaries who began receiving payments after May 1997, the April payment schedule is as follows:
- Wednesday, May 13 — for those with birthdays between the 1st and 10th
- Wednesday, May 20 — for birthdays between the 11th and 20th
- Wednesday, May 27 — for birthdays between the 21st and the end of the month
SSA scam warning: What to watch for
A researcher browses an internet site with a job offer for a United Nations agency that has been flagged as a scam in Nairobi on June 30, 2022.
Tony Karumba/AFP via Getty Images
The SSA is alerting retirees about an ongoing scam involving impostor emails.
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The emails falsely claim to provide access to a recipient’s Social Security statement. Clicking links in the message can lead to identity theft, financial loss or compromised personal data.
In a news release, the Social Security Office of Inspector General warned that scammers are sending emails to appear legitimate, using official-looking language, logos, colors, and formatting to mislead recipients into clicking links or downloading attachments.
Official SSA communications originate from email addresses ending in “.gov.”
If someone clicks a fraudulent email, the links may install malware or direct victims to fake websites intended to steal personal and financial information.
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Here’s what the SSA warns people to watch for in their inbox:
- Messages claiming your Social Security statement is ready to download
- Embedded links or attachments labeled as statements or documents
- Messages creating urgency or pressure to act immediately
- Sender addresses that do not end in “.gov”
Read more: Is that Social Security email a scam? What to know about new SSA warning
How to get a replacement Social Security card
A Social Security card is shown in Tigard, Ore., Oct. 12, 2021.
Jenny Kane/AP
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The most convenient and secure method is to request a new Social Security card online if you:
- are a U.S. citizen aged 18 or older
- have a U.S. mailing address
- don’t need to change the name or other information on the card
- have a driver’s license or state-issued ID
- have a personal My Social Security account
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An application for a new card can be completed by visiting a local Social Security office. You may be able to start the application (Form SS-5) online before scheduling an appointment, or fill out the entire application in-office. In addition to Form SS-5, you must bring unexpired identification documents to the office.
The third and final option for getting a new Social Security card is by mail. You can complete the application (Form SS-5) and mail it along with original or certified copies of required documents, which include those that verify:
- Identity: U.S. driver’s license, state-issued non-driver identification card or U.S. passport
- U.S. citizenship: U.S. birth certificate or U.S. passport
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Once approved, the SSA will typically send you a replacement card within 7 to 10 business days.
What is the Social Security full retirement age for 2026?
The full, or “normal,” retirement age has gradually increased in recent years, rising by two months for each successive birth year:
- 1943-1954: age 66
- 1955: age 66 and two months
- 1956: age 66 and four months
- 1957: age 66 and six months
- 1958: age 66 and eight months
- 1959: age 66 and 10 months
- 1960 and later: age 67
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Can people under the retirement age get their benefits now?
Yes, but there are consequences for tapping in too early. Workers can choose to receive benefits as early as age 62, though at a reduced amount. However, those who delay claiming benefits until age 70 receive higher monthly payments.
Changes to Social Security in 2026 include a larger cost-of-living adjustment (2.8%, up from 2.5%) and an increase in the maximum taxable earnings limit from $176,100 to $184,500. Just as in 2025, Social Security offices nationwide will generally require an appointment.
What is the maximum Social Security benefit in 2026?
In 2025, the highest Social Security benefit for individuals retiring at full retirement age was $4,018 per month, according to the SSA. Due to certain inflation adjustments in how Social Security is calculated and how past earnings are adjusted for inflation, the maximum benefit rose to $5,251 per month, totaling over $63,000 annually, in 2026.
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Find a Social Security office near you
Find a Social Security office using the SSA’s online locator.
