Social Security Payment Dates For 2026: Social Security payments are very important for many Americans. People depend on these payments to pay rent, buy food, and handle medical costs. For 2026, the Social Security Administration has kept the payment system mostly the same, so people can plan their money better.
More than 74 million Americans who get Social Security or Supplemental Security Income will follow this schedule. All of them will also get a 2.8% cost-of-living increase added to their monthly checks.
Why Social Security Checks Will Arrive Later Than Usual in January 2026?
How Social Security Payments Work in 2026
The Social Security Administration sends most retirement, survivor, and spousal payments on Wednesdays each month. The exact Wednesday depends on a person’s birth date.
- SSI payments are scheduled for the 1st of every month.
- Pre-May 1997 beneficiaries are paid on the 3rd of each month.
- Birth dates 1-10 receive benefits on the second Wednesday.
- Birth dates 11-20 receive benefits on the third Wednesday.
- Birth dates 21-31 receive benefits on the fourth Wednesday.
Supplemental Security Income works separately. SSI payments normally go out on the 1st day of each month. If the 1st falls on a weekend or a federal holiday, the payment goes out earlier. In those cases, people receive their SSI on the last business day of the previous month. This happens several times during the year.
Why Some Payments are coming Early
Even though the schedule looks simple, some dates change because of weekends and holidays.
In 2026, some SSI payments arrive earlier than usual.
- January 2026 SSI: Paid on December 31, 2025, because January 1 is a federal holiday.
- February 2026 SSI: Paid on January 30, since February 1 falls on a weekend.
- March 2026 SSI: Paid on February 27, as March 1 is a weekend.
- August 2026 SSI: Paid on July 31, because August 1 falls on a weekend.
- November 2026 SSI: Paid on October 30, since November 1 is a weekend.
- January 2027 SSI: Paid on December 31, 2026, because January 1, 2027 is a federal holiday.
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Full schedule of Social Security payments in 2026
January
- Dec. 31, 2025 – SSI for January (early payment due to Jan. 1 holiday)
- Jan. 2 – Benefits for those collecting since before May 1997
- Jan. 14 – Birthdays between the 1st and 10th
- Jan. 21 – Birthdays between the 11th and 20th
- Jan. 28 – Birthdays between the 21st and 31st
- Jan. 30 – SSI for February
February
- Feb. 3 – Benefits for those collecting since before May 1997
- Feb. 11 – Birthdays between the 1st and 10th
- Feb. 18 – Birthdays between the 11th and 20th
- Feb. 25 – Birthdays between the 21st and 31st
- Feb. 27 – SSI for March
March
- March 3 – Benefits for those collecting since before May 1997
- March 11 – Birthdays between the 1st and 10th
- March 18 – Birthdays between the 11th and 20th
- March 25 – Birthdays between the 21st and 31st
April
- April 1 – SSI payments
- April 3 – Benefits for those collecting since before May 1997
- April 8 – Birthdays between the 1st and 10th
- April 15 – Birthdays between the 11th and 20th
- April 22 – Birthdays between the 21st and 31st
May
- May 1 – SSI payments and benefits for those collecting since before May 1997
- May 13 – Birthdays between the 1st and 10th
- May 20 – Birthdays between the 11th and 20th
- May 27 – Birthdays between the 21st and 31st
June
- June 1 – SSI payments
- June 3 – Benefits for those collecting since before May 1997
- June 10 – Birthdays between the 1st and 10th
- June 17 – Birthdays between the 11th and 20th
- June 24 – Birthdays between the 21st and 31st
July
- July 1 – SSI payments
- July 2 – Benefits for those collecting since before May 1997
- July 8 – Birthdays between the 1st and 10th
- July 15 – Birthdays between the 11th and 20th
- July 22 – Birthdays between the 21st and 31st
- July 31 – SSI for August
August
- Aug. 3 – Benefits for those collecting since before May 1997
- Aug. 12 – Birthdays between the 1st and 10th
- Aug. 19 – Birthdays between the 11th and 20th
- Aug. 26 – Birthdays between the 21st and 31st
September
- Sep. 1 – SSI payments
- Sep. 3 – Benefits for those collecting since before May 1997
- Sep. 9 – Birthdays between the 1st and 10th
- Sep. 16 – Birthdays between the 11th and 20th
- Sep. 23 – Birthdays between the 21st and 31st
October
- Oct. 1 – SSI payments
- Oct. 2 – Benefits for those collecting since before May 1997
- Oct. 14 – Birthdays between the 1st and 10th
- Oct. 21 – Birthdays between the 11th and 20th
- Oct. 28 – Birthdays between the 21st and 31st
- Oct. 30 – SSI for November
November
- Nov. 3 – Benefits for those collecting since before May 1997
- Nov. 10 – Birthdays between the 1st and 10th
- Nov. 18 – Birthdays between the 11th and 20th
- Nov. 25 – Birthdays between the 21st and 31st
December
- Dec. 1 – SSI payments
- Dec. 3 – Benefits for those collecting since before May 1997
- Dec. 9 – Birthdays between the 1st and 10th
- Dec. 16 – Birthdays between the 11th and 20th
- Dec. 23 – Birthdays between the 21st and 31st
- Dec. 31 – SSI for January 2027
