With May underway, find out when the SSA is issuing Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income in the U.S. this month.
When do Social Security and SSI go out in May 2026? The complete payment schedule
May 2026 is now underway - and the U.S.’s Social Security Administration (SSA) has kicked off this month’s payment schedule, with millions of recipients due to collect their latest benefits last Friday.
However, millions more SSA beneficiaries must wait until at least mid-May to receive their money.
Here’s what you need to know about the SSA’s May distribution timeline, both for Social Security benefits (retirement, disability or survivor pay) and for the Supplemental Security Income scheme (SSI):
Who has the Social Security Administration already paid for May?
On Friday, May 1, three groups of beneficiaries were scheduled to receive their latest monthly payment:
- SSI recipients
A benefit with just over 7.3 million recipients in the U.S., SSI is paid out on the first day of each month.
Aimed at certain low-income individuals, SSI is separate from Social Security. Both programs are operated by the SSA, but SSI differs as it is purely needs-based: eligibility does not depend on a claimant’s work record.
- Certain long-term Social Security beneficiaries
May 1 was this month’s Social Security distribution date for recipients who began claiming before May 1997. Payment would usually be made on May 3, but was brought forward as this date falls on a non-business day.
- Double beneficiaries: Social Security + SSI
Social Security was also paid two days early to the just over 2.5 million Americans who combine retirement, disability or survivor benefits with the SSI program.
When does the three-Wednesdays cycle kick in for May 2026?
Most of the U.S.’s 71.1 million recipients of Social Security will get their retirement, disability or survivor benefits on the second, third or fourth Wednesday in May.
A recipient’s designated Wednesday depends on the date of birth of the worker whose employment history has accumulated the benefits entitlement:
- 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
How much are monthly Social Security and SSI benefits?
- Retired workers: $2,081.16
- Disabled workers: $1,634.70
- Survivor benefits: $1,625.56
- SSI benefits: $738.22
(Average benefit, according to SSA figures.)
How does the Social Security Administration pay benefits?
- Monthly payments can be made into a recipient’s bank account by direct deposit
- Benefits can be paid onto the Direct Express Card, a special debit card for federal disbursements
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