According to the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) official payment schedule, the agency has issued August 2026’s benefits for the following programs:
As September approaches, the SSA is now gearing up to kick off next month’s distribution timeline.
Who does the Social Security Admin pay first in September 2026?
- September 1: SSI beneficiaries
On Tuesday, September 1, the SSA is due to send out the month’s SSI payments.
A program for low-income, low-resource people who are over 65 or have a disability, SSI is a benefit that is separate to the Social Security scheme, despite also being administered by the SSA. While claimants of Social Security benefits must earn work credits to qualify, eligibility for SSI is not employment-record dependent.
When does September’s three-Wednesdays payment cycle kick in?
Of the 71.3 million recipients of Social Security benefits in the U.S., many are paid on the second, third or fourth Wednesday in each month, depending on their date of birth. In September, this three-Wednesdays cycle is:
- Beneficiaries born on 1st-10th of any month: paid on Wednesday, September 9
- Beneficiaries born on 11th-20th of any month: paid on Wednesday, September 16
- Beneficiaries born on 21st-31st of any month: paid on Wednesday, September 23
NB: If you get Social Security based on someone else’s employment history, the SSA uses the other person’s birthday.
What other payment dates are there in September?
- September 3: Social Security paid to dual beneficiaries/some long-term recipients
On Thursday, September 3, the SSA is scheduled to pay out September’s Social Security to recipients who began claiming their benefits before May 1997.
September 3 is also next month’s Social Security payment date for beneficiaries who combine the program with 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 stats shared by the SSA.)
How does the Social Security Admin pay benefits?
- Benefits can be transferred into a recipient’s bank account by direct deposit
- Money can be loaded onto the Direct Express Card, a debit card for federal payments
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