Social Security Payment Schedule 2026

The Social Security Administration (SSA) pays retirement, disability, and survivor benefits on a staggered monthly schedule based on the beneficiary's date of birth. Understanding which Wednesday your payment arrives each month is essential for budgeting, especially for the nearly 70 million Americans who depend on Social Security as a primary income source. The 2026 payment calendar follows the same birth-date-based system that has been in place since 1997.

Social Security payments are divided into three groups. If your birthday falls on the 1st through the 10th of any month, you are paid on the second Wednesday of each month. If your birthday falls on the 11th through the 20th, you receive payment on the third Wednesday. And if your birthday falls on the 21st through the 31st, your payment arrives on the fourth Wednesday. Here are all 36 payment dates for 2026 organized by birth date group:

Birth dates 1st-10th (Second Wednesday): January 14, February 11, March 11, April 8, May 13, June 10, July 8, August 12, September 9, October 14, November 11, December 9.

Birth dates 11th-20th (Third Wednesday): January 21, February 18, March 18, April 15, May 20, June 17, July 15, August 19, September 16, October 21, November 18, December 16.

Birth dates 21st-31st (Fourth Wednesday): January 28, February 25, March 25, April 22, May 27, June 24, July 22, August 26, September 23, October 28, November 25, December 23.

There is an important exception to the birth-date rule. Beneficiaries who began receiving Social Security payments before May 1997 are paid on the 3rd of each month regardless of when they were born. When the 3rd falls on a weekend or federal holiday, payments are issued on the last business day before that date. This legacy schedule applies to a shrinking number of beneficiaries each year as this group ages.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) operates on its own separate schedule. SSI payments are sent on the 1st of each month, again with weekend and holiday adjustments pushing the payment to the preceding business day. In 2026, SSI payment dates that are adjusted include February 1 (Sunday, paid January 30), March 1 (Sunday, paid February 27), August 1 (Saturday, paid July 31), and November 1 (Sunday, paid October 30). Some individuals who qualify for both Social Security and SSI receive two separate payments on different dates each month.

The 2026 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increased Social Security and SSI benefits by 2.8 percent, effective with January 2026 payments. For the average retired worker, this means approximately $56 more per month, bringing the average monthly benefit to roughly $2,056. The maximum Social Security benefit at full retirement age in 2026 is $3,942 per month, while the maximum SSI federal payment is $967 per month for an individual and $1,450 for an eligible couple. The COLA is calculated annually using the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).

To verify your specific payment date, create or log in to your my Social Security account at SSA.gov. Your online account shows your payment history, upcoming payment dates, benefit amount, and Medicare premium deductions. You can also call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) for assistance with payment questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Social Security determine my payment date?

The Social Security Administration assigns your monthly payment date based on the day of the month you were born. If your birthday falls on the 1st through the 10th, your payment is sent on the second Wednesday of each month. If your birthday falls on the 11th through the 20th, your payment is sent on the third Wednesday. If your birthday falls on the 21st through the 31st, your payment is sent on the fourth Wednesday. This staggered system was implemented in 1997 to spread out the massive volume of payments the SSA processes each month. There is one exception: beneficiaries who started receiving payments before May 1997 or who also receive SSI are paid on the 3rd of each month regardless of birth date.

When will I receive my first 2026 Social Security payment?

Your first Social Security payment in 2026 depends on your birth date group. If you were born on the 1st through 10th of any month, your first 2026 payment arrives on Wednesday, January 14. If you were born on the 11th through 20th, your first payment comes on Wednesday, January 21. If you were born on the 21st through 31st, your first 2026 payment arrives on Wednesday, January 28. For SSI recipients, the first 2026 payment is issued on Thursday, January 1, though because that is New Year's Day and banks are closed, the deposit is actually processed on Wednesday, December 31, 2025. Direct deposit recipients typically see funds in their accounts by morning on the payment date.

How much did Social Security increase in 2026?

Social Security benefits increased by 2.8 percent in 2026 through the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). This raise took effect with January 2026 payments and applies to all Social Security retirement, disability (SSDI), and survivor benefits, as well as Supplemental Security Income (SSI). For the average retired worker, the 2.8 percent COLA translates to approximately $56 more per month, bringing the average monthly retirement benefit to roughly $2,056. The COLA is calculated based on the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from the third quarter of the prior year compared to the third quarter of the base year.

Is SSI paid on the same schedule as Social Security?

No, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) follows a different payment schedule than regular Social Security benefits. SSI payments are issued on the 1st of each month, regardless of the recipient's birth date. When the 1st falls on a weekend or federal holiday, SSI payments are sent on the last business day before the 1st. For example, if the 1st is a Sunday, SSI is paid on the preceding Friday. This is different from Social Security retirement and disability benefits, which are paid on the second, third, or fourth Wednesday of each month based on birth date. Some individuals receive both SSI and Social Security, in which case they receive two separate payments on different dates each month.

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