According to the official payment schedule shared by the U.S.’s Social Security Administration (SSA), the agency has now issued July 2026’s benefits for the following programs:
Before August arrives, however, the SSA still has one round of checks to distribute to SSI beneficiaries.
Social Security Admin to close out July 2026 with early payment
On Friday, July 31, the SSA is due to send out August’s SSI, a day earlier than normal. SSI is typically paid out on the first of each month, but distribution has been brought forward because August 1 is a non-business day.
Who is eligible for SSI?
A benefit for low-income, low-resource people who are over 65 or have a disability, SSI is entirely separate to Social Security, despite also being run by the SSA.
While claimants of Social Security benefits must accumulate a certain amount of work credits to qualify, eligibility for SSI does not depend on an applicant’s employment history. SSI is a needs-based program funded not by Social Security payroll taxes, but by general tax revenues.
Complete: July 2026’s three-Wednesdays Social Security cycle
Of the U.S.’s 71.3 million recipients of Social Security benefits, many were paid on the second, third or fourth Wednesday in July, depending on their date of birth. Per the SSA’s benefits schedule, the agency rounded off this month’s three-Wednesdays cycle earlier this week:
NB: If you receive Social Security benefits based on someone else’s employment history, the SSA refers to the other person’s birthday.
What other payment dates were on the SSA’s July 2026 schedule?
- July 1: This month’s SSI benefits sent out
On Wednesday, July 1, the SSA issued July’s SSI benefits to the program’s 7.3 million beneficiaries.
- July 2: Social Security paid to certain long-term, dual recipients
On Thursday, July 2, the SSA paid out this month’s Social Security to recipients who began claiming their payments before May 1997. Meanwhile, Thursday 2 was also July’s Social Security distribution date for the 2.5 million program beneficiaries who simultaneously receive SSI.
These pre-May ‘97 and dual recipients are usually paid Social Security on the third of the month, but got their benefits early because July 3 was a federal holiday.
How much are monthly Social Security and SSI benefits?
- Social Security retirement benefits: $2,029.92
- Social Security disability benefits: $1,496.16
- Social Security survivor benefits: $1,631.39
- SSI benefits: $738.10
(Average monthly benefit, according to figures published by the SSA.)
How does the SSA make Social Security and SSI payments?
- Money can be transferred into a beneficiary’s bank account by direct deposit
- Benefits can be paid onto the Direct Express Card, a special debit card for federal disbursements
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