As the SSA continues on its February payment schedule, we bring you the complete lowdown on when benefits are going out this month.
When are Social Security and SSI being sent out in February 2026? Here’s the full payment schedule
With two February payment dates completed, the United States’ Social Security Administration (SSA) has so far distributed benefits to three groups of recipients this month.
A further three sets of beneficiaries are still to get their latest monthly money, as they wait for the SSA’s three-Wednesdays payment cycle to kick in.
Here’s what you need to know about the SSA’s benefits schedule for February 2026:
Who has already been paid?
- SSI recipients
Beneficiaries of the SSA’s Supplemental Security Income (SSI) scheme were the first recipients to pick up their February payments. Indeed, they got their money before January was over: this month’s SSI was distributed on Friday, Jan. 30.
The more than seven million beneficiaries of the SSI program would normally have received their money on Feb. 1, but as the month began on a Sunday, payment was brought forward to the nearest working day.
- Some long-term beneficiaries
On Tuesday, Feb. 3, certain recipients of the SSA’s retirement, disability and survivor-benefits programs were paid for February: specifically, those who signed up for one of these three schemes before May 1997.
- Dual beneficiaries: Social Security + SSI
On Feb. 3, retirement, disability and survivor benefits were also sent out to anyone who combines one of these payments with SSI.
A program for low-income individuals who are over 65 or have a disability, SSI has 7.37 million beneficiaries - of which around 2.5 million are dual recipients. Unlike retirement, disability and survivor benefits, SSI is a solely needs-based scheme. It does not depend on recipients’ payment of Social Security taxes.
When does February’s three-Wednesdays cycle kick in?
Of the 70.6 million Americans who benefit from the retirement, survivor or disability programs, most will be paid on one of three days in February: the month’s second, third or fourth Wednesday.
A recipient’s designated Wednesday depends on the date of birth of the worker whose Social Security taxes have accumulated the benefits entitlement:
- Born on 1st to 10th of any month: Weds., Feb. 11
- Born on 11th to 20th of any month: Weds., Feb. 18
- Born on 21st to 31st of any month: Weds., Feb. 25
Social Security and SSI - every payment date for February 2026:
Retirement, disability and survivor benefits
- Tues., Feb. 3: Pre-May ’97/dual recipients
- Weds., Feb. 11: If born on 1st to 10th
- Weds., Feb. 18: If born on 11th to 20th
- Weds., Feb. 25: If born on 21st to 31st
Supplement Security Income
- Fri., Jan. 30
Are any other benefits on the SSA’s February schedule?
Yes: After the three-Wednesdays cycle finishes on the 25th, the SSA will still have one final round of payments to distribute in February. As Mar. 1 is a Sunday, that month’s SSI is to be sent out on the final working day in February: Friday 27th.
You can check out the SSA’s complete benefits-payment schedule for 2026 in this online calendar.
How much are retirement, survivor, disability and SSI benefits?
According to figures published by the SSA, retired workers were issued $2,074.53 a month on average as of January 2026. Disabled workers got $1,633.48 a month on average, and recipients of survivor benefits were paid an average of $1,622.32 a month. SSI beneficiaries received a monthly average of $737.00.
January’s benefits were the first to include the SSA’s 2026 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). Last fall, the agency revealed that recipients of its retirement, SSDI and survivor benefits, as well as SSI beneficiaries, were to get a 2.8% pay rise.
How does the Social Security Administration make benefits payments?
The SSA offers two electronic payment methods:
- Beneficiaries can have their monthly money paid into their bank account by direct deposit
- Benefits can be loaded onto the Direct Express Card, a debit card for federal payments made to people without a bank account
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