As February comes to a close, we bring you the lowdown on when the Social Security Administration is sending out March’s benefits.
When are Social Security and SSI benefits going out in March 2026? The complete payment schedule
According to the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) official payment calendar, February 2026’s benefits have now been sent out, across five distribution dates.
Before this month is over, however, the agency is due to kick off its benefits-payment schedule for March. Here’s what you need to know about the SSA benefits schedule for next month:
Who gets paid first for March 2026?
On Friday, Feb. 27, recipients of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) scheme will be the first SSA beneficiaries to collect their March payments.
SSI’s more than seven million recipients are normally be paid on the first day of each month, but as Mar. 1 is a Sunday, payment has been brought forward to the nearest business day before then.
When does Social Security’s three-Wednesdays cycle kick in?
Of the 70.6 million people in the U.S. who benefit from one of Social Security’s retirement, survivor or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) programs, most will receive their latest payment on one of three days in March: the month’s second, third or fourth Wednesday.
A recipient’s allocated Wednesday depends on the date of birth of the worker whose Social Security taxes have earned the benefits entitlement:
- Born on 1st-10th of any month: Weds., Mar. 11
- Born on 11th-20th of any month: Weds., Mar. 18
- Born on 21st-31st of any month: Weds., Mar. 25
Who gets retirement, SSDI or survivor benefits outside the three-Wednesdays cycle?
- Some long-term beneficiaries
The three-Wednesdays system does not apply to recipients of retirement, SSDI or survivor pay who began claiming any of these benefits before May 1997. In March, these long-term SSA beneficiaries are to be paid on Tuesday 3rd, irrespective of their date of birth.
- Dual beneficiaries: Social Security + SSI
On Mar. 3, retirement, SSDI and survivor benefits will also be issued to Americans who combine one of these payments with SSI.
A scheme for low-income individuals who are over 65 or have a disability, SSI has just under 7.4 million beneficiaries - of which around 2.5 million are twin recipients.
Unlike retirement, SSDI and survivor benefits, SSI is a purely needs-based program. It does not depend on recipients’ payment of Social Security taxes.
Social Security and SSI - every payment date for March 2026:
Retirement, SSDI and survivor
- Tues., Mar. 3: Pre-May ’97/dual recipients
- Weds., Mar. 11: If born on 1st-10th
- Weds., Mar. 18: If born on 11th-20th
- Weds., Mar. 25: If born on 21st-31st
Supplement Security Income
- Fri., Feb. 27
You can take a look at the SSA’s full benefits payment calendar for 2026 here.
Stay ahead in 2026! 📅✨ Download the Social Security Benefit Payment Schedule and plan your finances with confidence: https://t.co/a0gfYw3ION pic.twitter.com/VYsqI017Mz
— Social Security (@SocialSecurity) February 17, 2026
How much are monthly retirement, survivor, disability and SSI benefits?
According to the latest figures published by the SSA, retired workers are paid an average of $2,074.53 a month. Disabled workers get $1,633.48 a month on average, and monthly survivor benefits average $1,622.32. SSI recipients’ average monthly payment is $737.00.
Since January, SSA benefits have included the agency’s 2026 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). Last fall, the SSA revealed that recipients of its retirement, SSDI and survivor benefits, and SSI beneficiaries, were to get a 2.8% increase in their monthly payments.
How does Social Security send out benefits payments?
The SSA provides beneficiaries with two ways of receiving electronic payments:
- Recipients can have their benefits paid into their bank account by direct deposit
- Alternatively, benefits can be loaded onto the Direct Express Card, a debit card for federal disbursements made to people who do not have a bank account
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