Social Security

Social Security: This is the definitive payment schedule for 2026

The Social Security Administration has confirmed the official benefits-payment schedule for 2026.

Dado Ruvic

Update: Dec 18th, 2025 18:07 EST

The Social Security Administration (SSA) is preparing to send out its increased 2026 payments, which will benefit retirees, survivors, and recipients of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Next year, the SSA will issue larger payments thanks to the annual cost‑of‑living adjustment (COLA), which is calculated each year based on inflation to ensure beneficiaries don’t lose purchasing power. In general terms, when inflation rises, Social Security payments rise with it.

After completing its calculation, the agency announced in late October that the 2026 COLA will be 2.8%. Find out more about next year’s adjusted payments.

BREAKING! 75 million Americans will get a 2.8 percent increase in monthly Social Security benefits and SSI payments in 2026. Check our blog for more information: https://t.co/5tyMKftWyD. pic.twitter.com/X0ZZR28a2j
— Social Security (@SocialSecurity) October 24, 2025

Social Security payment schedule for 2026

According to the official SSA schedule, SSI payments are issued on the first day of each month. On the third day of each month, the SSA sends payments to recipients of retirement, survivor, and SSDI benefits who began claiming before May 1997.

For individuals who receive both SSI and Social Security, the former is paid on the first day of the month and the latter on the third day.

All remaining recipients of retirement, survivor and SSDI pay are sent their money on the second, third or fourth Wednesday in each month, based on the beneficiary’s date of birth:

Second Wednesday: beneficiaries born from 1st to 10th
Third Wednesday: beneficiaries born from 11th to 20th
Fourth Wednesday: beneficiaries born from 21st to 31st

If a payment date falls on a weekend or federal holiday, the payment is issued on the previous business day. Based on the official schedule, here is the full 2026 Social Security payment calendar:

January 2026

Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025: SSI (payment for January 2026)
Friday, Jan. 2: Beneficiaries who began claiming before May 1997
Wednesday, Jan. 14: Beneficiaries born from 1st and 10th
Wednesday, Jan. 21: Beneficiaries born from 11th and 20th
Wednesday, Jan. 28: Beneficiaries born from 21st and 31st
Friday, Jan. 30: SSI (payment for February)

February 2026

Tuesday, Feb. 3: Beneficiaries who began claiming before May 1997
Wednesday, Feb. 11: Beneficiaries born from 1st and 10th
Wednesday, Feb. 18: Beneficiaries born from 11th and 20th
Wednesday, Feb. 25: Beneficiaries born from 21st and 31st
Friday, Feb. 27: SSI (payment for March)

March 2026

Tuesday, Mar. 3: Beneficiaries who began claiming before May 1997
Wednesday, Mar. 11: Beneficiaries born from 1st and 10th
Wednesday, Mar. 18: Beneficiaries born from 11th and 20th
Wednesday, Mar. 25: Beneficiaries born from 21st and 31st

April 2026

Wednesday, Apr. 1: SSI
Friday, Apr. 3: Beneficiaries who began claiming before May 1997
Wednesday, Apr. 8: Beneficiaries born from 1st and 10th
Wednesday, Apr. 15: Beneficiaries born from 11th and 20th
Wednesday, Apr. 22: Beneficiaries born from 21st and 31st

May 2026

Friday, May 1: SSI and beneficiaries who began claiming before May 1997
Wednesday, May 13: Beneficiaries born from 1st and 10th
Wednesday, May 20: Beneficiaries born from 11th and 20th
Wednesday, May 27: Beneficiaries born from 21st and 31st

June 2026

Monday, Jun. 1: SSI
Wednesday, Jun. 3: Beneficiaries who began claiming before May 1997
Wednesday, Jun. 10: Beneficiaries born from 1st and 10th
Wednesday, Jun. 17: Beneficiaries born from 11th and 20th
Wednesday, Jun. 24: Beneficiaries born from 21st and 31st

July 2026

Wednesday, Jul. 1: SSI
Thursday, Jul. 2: Beneficiaries who began claiming before May 1997
Wednesday, Jul. 8: Beneficiaries born from 1st and 10th
Wednesday, Jul. 15: Beneficiaries born from 11th and 20th
Wednesday, Jul. 22: Beneficiaries born from 21st and 31st
Friday, Jul. 31: SSI (payment for August)

August 2026

Monday, Aug. 3: Beneficiaries who began claiming before May 1997
Wednesday, Aug. 12: Beneficiaries born from 1st and 10th
Wednesday, Aug. 19: Beneficiaries born from 11th and 20th
Wednesday, Aug. 26: Beneficiaries born from 21st and 31st

September 2026

Tuesday, Sep. 1: SSI
Thursday, Sep. 3: Beneficiaries who began claiming before May 1997
Wednesday, Sep. 9: Beneficiaries born from 1st and 10th
Wednesday, Sep. 16: Beneficiaries born from 11th and 20th
Wednesday, Sep. 23: Beneficiaries born from 21st and 31st

October 2026

Thursday, Oct. 1: SSI
Friday, Oct. 2: Beneficiaries who began claiming before May 1997
Wednesday, Oct. 14: Beneficiaries born from 1st and 10th
Wednesday, Oct. 21: Beneficiaries born from 11th and 20th
Wednesday, Oct. 28: Beneficiaries born from 21st and 31st
Friday, Oct. 30: Supplemental Security Income (payment for November)

November 2026

Tuesday, Nov. 3: Beneficiaries who began claiming before May 1997
Tuesday, Nov. 10: Beneficiaries born from 1st and 10th
Wednesday, Nov. 18: Beneficiaries born from 11th and 20th
Wednesday, Nov. 25: Beneficiaries born from 21st and 31st

December 2026

Tuesday, Dec. 1: SSI
Thursday, Dec. 3: Beneficiaries who began claiming before May 1997
Wednesday, Dec. 9: Beneficiaries born from 1st and 10th
Wednesday, Dec. 16: Beneficiaries born from 11th and 20th
Wednesday, Dec. 23: Beneficiaries born from 21st and 31st
Thursday, Dec. 31: SSI (payment for January 2027)