Next week, the U.S.’s Social Security Administration is to make May 2026’s latest payments to certain beneficiaries.
Social Security is paid out on Wednesday, May 20: who benefits?
After a lengthy wait for May’s three-Wednesdays payment cycle to kick in, the Social Security Administration (SSA) is next week set to issue Social Security benefits to this month’s second group of birthday-dependent recipients.
Who gets Social Security on Wednesday, May 20?
The SSA is scheduled to send out benefits to Social Security claimants born from the 11th to 20th of any month. (Important: If you receive Social Security based on someone else’s employment history, the agency uses the other person’s birthday.)
Of the 71 million Americans who get Social Security - whether retirement, disability or survivor benefits - many are paid on the second, third or fourth Wednesday in each month. A beneficiary’s allocated Wednesday is decided by the date of birth of the worker who has earned the entitlement.
In May, this staggered Social Security payment cycle is:
- Born on 1st-10th of any month: Wednesday, May 13
- Born on 11th-20th of any month: Wednesday, May 20
- Born on 21st-31st of any month: Wednesday, May 27
This month’s three-Wednesdays cycle began at the second-latest point possible.
How much do Social Security beneficiaries receive?
- Retired workers: $2,081.16
- Disabled workers: $1,634.70
- Survivor benefits: $1,625.56
(Average monthly benefit, per agency figures.)
Who isn’t paid Social Security on the second, third or fourth Wednesday?
- Certain long-term beneficiaries: May 1
Beneficiaries who began receiving Social Security before May 1997 are normally issued their money on the third of the month, no matter their date of birth. But May 3 was not a business day, so they were instead paid on Friday, May 1.
- Dual beneficiaries (Social Security + SSI): May 1
Social Security can be combined with Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a separate program for certain low-income Americans. People who double up normally get Social Security on the third, with SSI paid on the first. However, as May 3 was a weekend day, both benefits went out on Friday 1.
How does Social Security make benefits payments?
- Direct deposit
Social Security beneficiaries can update their banking info on the SSA’s online my Social Security tool.
- Direct Express
Benefits can be paid onto the Direct Express Card, a debit card for federal disbursements. Sign up for Direct Express at 1-800-333-1795 or 1-800-772-1213, or at a Social Security office.
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