As August 2026 enters its third full week, the U.S.’s Social Security Administration (SSA) continues to pay out this month’s benefits for the following programs:
According to the SSA’s official distribution schedule, the agency has so far completed three of its five payment dates for this month.
August’s three-Wednesdays payment cycle – status update:
Of the U.S.’s 71.3 million recipients of Social Security benefits, most get their money on the second, third or fourth Wednesday in each month, depending on their date of birth.
In August, this cycle kicked in last week, with two more Wednesday payment dates still to come:
NB: If you receive Social Security based on someone else’s employment history, the SSA uses the other person’s date of birth.
August’s other SSA benefits dates:
- July 31: SSI benefits paid out
On Friday, July 31, the SSA distributed August’s SSI payments, a day ahead of the scheme’s typical schedule. SSI is usually issued on the first day of each month, but was paid early because August 1 was a weekend day.
A program for low-income, low-resource Americans who are over 65 or have a disability, SSI is separate to the Social Security scheme, despite also being administered by the SSA.
While Social Security claimants must accumulate work credits to qualify for benefits, eligibility for SSI is not dependent on an applicant’s employment history.
- August 3: Dual beneficiaries and certain long-term Social Security recipients
On Monday, August 3, the SSA paid out this month’s Social Security to recipients who have been issued payments since before May 1997. August 3 was also this month’s Social Security distribution date for beneficiaries who simultaneously receive SSI.
How much are Social Security and SSI benefits?
- Social Security retirement: $2,031.74/month
- Social Security disability: $1,498.43/month
- Social Security survivor: $1,634.61/month
- SSI: $736.54/month
(Average benefit, per figures published by the SSA.)
How does the Social Security Admin pay out benefits?
- Monthly money can be transferred into a beneficiary’s bank account by direct deposit
- Benefits can be paid onto the Direct Express Card, a debit card for picking up federal disbursements
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