Find out the SSA’s May 2026 payment dates for Social Security and the Supplemental Security Income scheme.
When are Social Security and SSI paid out in May 2026? Complete payment schedule
With just the one payment run still to go in May 2026, the Social Security Administration (SSA) is coming to the end of this month’s benefits-distribution schedule.
Read on for the lowdown on May’s payment timeline for the Social Security program, which sends out retirement, disability or survivor benefits to just over 71 million people in the U.S. You’ll also find details on the schedule for the Supplemental Security Income scheme (SSI):
Three-Wednesdays Social Security cycle: May 2026 update
Most Social Security recipients in the U.S. receive their benefits on the second, third or fourth Wednesday in each month, depending on their date of birth.
In May 2026, this birthday-determined payment cycle kicked off on the 13th, before continuing seven days later. It is then scheduled to conclude this midweek:
- 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
NB: If you receive Social Security based on someone else’s work record, the SSA uses the other person’s birthday.
What other payment runs are on the May 2026 schedule?
On Friday, May 1, three groups of SSA beneficiaries were due to collect their latest monthly payment:
- SSI recipients
A benefits program with 7.3 million recipients nationwide, SSI is issued on the first day of each month.
Aimed at certain low-income individuals, SSI is separate from Social Security. Both programs are run by the SSA, but SSI differs as it is a purely needs-based benefit: eligibility is not employment record-dependent.
- Long-term Social Security beneficiaries
May 1 was this month’s Social Security distribution date for recipients who began claiming their benefits before May 1997. These beneficiaries would typically have been paid on May 3, but this date fell on a weekend.
- Twin beneficiaries: Social Security + SSI
Social Security was also paid out two days early to the 2.5 million recipients who combine retirement, disability or survivor benefits with the SSI scheme.
How much is paid to Social Security and SSI beneficiaries?
- Retirement: $2,026.41/month
- Disability: $1,493.20/month
- Survivor: $1,625.56/month
- SSI: $738.22/month
(Average benefit, per SSA stats.)
How does the Social Security Administration pay out benefits?
- Money can be transferred into a recipient’s bank account by direct deposit
- Benefits can be paid onto the Direct Express Card, a debit card for federal disbursements
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