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Retirement

Social Security

When Social Security Recipients Will Get Their Checks in February

Social Security check sticking out of an envelope

Olive Burd / Money; Getty Images

As a partial government shutdown looms, there's good news for Social Security beneficiaries: Payments are set to be distributed as scheduled in February.

Roughly 68 million Americans receive Social Security benefits every month, including about 9 out of every 10 people age 65 and up. Funds aren't just for older folks, though. Payments go out to retirees, survivors of late workers, those with little to no resources, disabled workers, the blind, dependents and more.

The average Social Security payments for those various groups of people vary, but data from December shows the typical retirement benefit was about $1,980.

When will I get my February Social Security payment?

Your Social Security payment date is determined by your birthday.

If you were born on the first through the 10th of the month, you can expect to get your Social Security check on the second Wednesday of every month — in this case, Feb. 11.

If you were born on the 11th through the 20th of the month, you can expect to get your Social Security check on the third Wednesday of every month — in this case, Feb. 18.

If you were born on the 21st through the 31st, you can expect to get your Social Security check on the fourth Wednesday of every month — in this case, Feb. 25.

Where is my February SSI payment?

Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, payments are usually distributed on the first of each month. But because Feb. 1 fell on a Sunday, the February SSI payment was moved up to the previous business day: Jan. 31.

Folks who get both SSI and Social Security, as well as those who initially claimed Social Security prior to May 1997, should receive their Social Security benefits on Feb. 3.

This SSI date switch-up is a common occurrence. In fact, the next SSI payment will also go out on a slightly different schedule: Because March 1 falls on a Sunday, February SSI benefits will be paid the previous Friday (Feb. 27).

Where is my February Social Security payment?

Check the payment schedule above.

If you think your money is missing, you can reach out to the Social Security Administration (SSA). The SSA has both local offices and a toll-free national number. The national phone number is 1-800-772-1213. Representatives are available weekdays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time. Pro tip: The agency says wait times are shortest in the morning, late in the week and late in the month.

In any case, the SSA asks that you wait three mailing days before contacting it about a missing Social Security payment.

Will Social Security be delayed if the government shuts down?

A partial government shutdown could start later this week as Republicans and Democrats struggle to agree on a funding package in light of recent actions by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. Complicating the timeline is the fact that the House of Representatives is on recess until Feb. 2.

But even if the government shuts down, Social Security checks won't be affected.

"Payments to all people who currently receive Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) will continue with no change in payment dates," the SSA wrote in a blog post during last year's shutdown.

In-person Social Security offices will remain open, as well, but their ability to provide services like processing appeals, updating direct deposit information and replacing Social Security cards may be reduced.

What is the SSA payment schedule for 2026?

You can find the SSA's 2026 payment calendar on its website. Although it largely follows the schedule laid out above, some months are different.

To learn more about your payment status or to get additional help with Medicare, retirement benefits, disability, SSI and more, make a "my Social Security" account for free at SSA.gov.

How do I calculate my Social Security payment?

Benefits are generally calculated according to your average indexed monthly earnings, which include up to 35 years of your highest-earning years. The SSA then applies a formula to determine your primary insurance amount.

The amount of money retirees actually receive depends partially on their age. Although you can start getting Social Security retirement payments at 62 years old, the longer you wait to claim Social Security, the higher your payments will be (until age 70, when the increases stop).

For many Americans, this money is crucial — Social Security accounts for about 30% of the income received by folks over age 65. As people live longer and legislators wrestle over the future of Social Security, the cost of retirement is surging: In 2022, federal data shows retired households spent an average of $54,975, including $11,186 on shelter, $8,065 on transportation and $7,505 on health care.

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