Social Security Schedule for 2026: When to Expect Your Benefit Payments

Millions of Americans rely on Social Security to pay their bills each month. But for many households, knowing when the money will hit your account is just as important as knowing how much it will be.

In 2026, about 75 million people will receive some type of Social Security payment, including retirees, disabled workers and survivors of deceased workers (not just Americans 62 and older).

The Social Security Administration estimates the typical monthly payment for retired workers will rise from $2,015 to about $2,071 in January thanks to the cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, which is designed to help checks keep pace with inflation. The 2026 COLA of 2.8% applies to benefits starting in January — though some recipients will see the increase at the end of December due to how payments are scheduled around federal holidays.

Exactly when your payments arrive in 2026 depends on factors such as your birthdate and the type of benefit you receive. Here’s a full breakdown of the Social Security payment schedule for the year.

How Social Security schedules payments

For most Social Security recipients, the day you were born determines the week your check is issued every month. The Social Security Administration groups recipients into three birthday tiers and generally pays benefits on Wednesdays.

If you were born between the first and 10th day of the month, your payment typically arrives on the second Wednesday of the month. Those born between the 11th and the 20th are paid on the third Wednesday. And recipients with birthdays between the 21st and 31st receive their benefits on the fourth Wednesday.

There are a few exceptions. Beneficiaries who first began receiving Social Security before May 1997 — as well as those who receive both Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) — typically get their Social Security payment on the third of the month, regardless of their birthdate.

SSI payments on their own are generally sent out on the first. But if that date falls on a weekend or federal holiday, the SSA issues the payment on the preceding business day.

2026 Social Security payment schedule

Here are all the scheduled Social Security payment dates for 2026, based on the SSA's official calendar:

• January: Jan. 14 (for those born on the first through 10th), Jan. 21 (born 11th-20th), Jan. 28 (born 21st-31st)
• February: Feb. 11, Feb. 18, Feb. 25
• March: March 11, March 18, March 25
• April: April 8, April 15, April 22
• May: May 13, May 20, May 27
• June: June 10, June 17, June 24
• July: July 8, July 15, July 22
• August: Aug. 12, Aug. 19, Aug. 26
• September: Sept. 9, Sept. 16, Sept. 23
• October: Oct. 14, Oct. 21, Oct. 28
• November: *Nov. 10, Nov. 18, Nov. 25
• December: Dec. 9, Dec. 16, Dec. 23

*Payment date shifts when a scheduled Wednesday falls on a federal holiday. In November 2026, for example, payments scheduled for Veterans Day are issued a day earlier.

If you're not sure which payment group you fall into — or want to confirm your exact payment date — you can check through your "My Social Security" account at SSA.gov.

2026 SSI payment schedule

SSI payments are usually sent on the first of each month. However, when the first falls on a weekend or federal holiday, payments are issued early. This doesn't mean you're getting an extra payment — it's just an adjusted schedule.

Here's the SSI payment schedule for 2026:

• Dec. 31
• Jan. 30
• Feb. 27
• April 1
• May 1
• June 1
• July 1
• July 31
• Sept. 1
• Oct. 1
• Oct. 30
• Dec. 1

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