Trays of printed social security checks wait to be mailed from the U.S. Treasury’s Financial Management services facility in Philadelphia. (Bradley C Bower, FRE / AP)
Of the over 71 million Americans who receive regular Social Security payments, some receiving disability benefits can expect their March checks to arrive this week. The month’s SSI payments were distributed at the end of February, and April’s payments will be sent next week.
Here’s what to know about the upcoming payments, along with new changes in 2026.
Read more: When will Social Security run out of funds? New report says sooner than expected
The Social Security Administration’s (SSA) yearly distribution schedule for 2026 is available online so that you can use the calendar for budgeting purposes. Regular Social Security retirement benefits are being sent out on the SSA’s schedule, with the final round of March payments arriving Wednesday.
Those who started receiving benefits before May 1997 — or who receive both Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) — should have received their payments on Tuesday, March 3.
For retirees and disability beneficiaries who began receiving payments after May 1997, the March payment schedule is as follows:
Wednesday, March 11 — for those with birthdays between the 1st and 10th
Wednesday, March 18 — for birthdays between the 11th and 20th
Wednesday, March 25 — for birthdays between the 21st and the end of the month
A sign identifies a building as a Social Security Administration (SSA) office. (Don and Melinda Crawford/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
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SSI payments are issued on the first of each month, but when that date falls on a weekend or holiday, the payment is sent early. Because March 1 fell on a Sunday, the March SSI payment was sent Feb. 27.
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All of the 2026 SSI payments have arrived early due to the scheduling rule: January’s payment came in December 2025, and February’s came in January. April’s payment will break this cycle, arriving next week. Since March’s payment went out in February and April’s will arrive on April 1, there will be no SSI checks distributed in the month of March.
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)
Read more: Is a $2,000 stimulus check coming in March? What Americans should know
Depending on income, Social Security benefits may be taxable. According to the SSA, up to 50% of benefits may be taxed for individuals with combined incomes between $25,000 and $34,000, and up to 85% for those earning more than $34,000 ($44,000 for couples).
New federal tax changes for 2026 increase the standard deduction and add an additional deduction for seniors, which could reduce the portion of benefits subject to tax for some retirees.
Read more: The IRS may owe you money from COVID penalties. How to claim it
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.
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.
The full, or “normal,” retirement age has gradually increased in recent years, rising by two months for each successive birth year. Here are the full retirement ages (FRA) by year of birth for 2026:
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
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 are rewarded with a higher monthly payout.
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.
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.
Click here to find a Social Security office near you.
