With April’s benefits payments well underway, check out the Social Security Administration’s schedule for this month.
When do Social Security and SSI go out in April 2026? Complete payment schedule
The U.S.’s Social Security Administration (SSA) has begun its three-Wednesdays payment cycle for April 2026, with two groups of recipients still to be issued benefits.
Here’s what you need to know about this month’s distribution timeline, both for Social Security and for Supplemental Security Income (SSI):
Three-Wednesdays cycle - April status update:
Most people on Social Security benefits - retirement, disability or survivor pay - get their money on the second, third or fourth Wednesday in each month. A beneficiary’s designated Wednesday is determined by the date of birth of the worker who has earned the entitlement.
In April, this birthday-dependent cycle kicked off on Wednesday 8th, with two more payment runs still to come:
- Born on 1st-10th of any month: Wednesday, April 8
- Born on 11th-20th of any month: Wednesday, April 15
- Born on 21st-31st of any month: Wednesday, April 22
Before April 8, the SSA also paid these beneficiaries this month:
- SSI recipients: April 1
On Wednesday, April 1, Americans on SSI were the first group of benefits recipients to get this month’s money.
A scheme for certain low-income individuals in the U.S., 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.
- Certain long-term Social Security recipients: April 3
On Friday, April 3, the SSA paid out Social Security to Americans who began claiming before May 1997.
- Dual beneficiaries (Social Security + SSI): April 3
April 3 was also this month’s Social Security distribution date for beneficiaries who combine the scheme with SSI.
How much are monthly Social Security and SSI benefits?
- Retired workers: $2,079.49
- Disabled workers: $1,633.76
- Survivor benefits: $1,624.37
- SSI benefits: $735.91
(Average monthly benefits, according to SSA figures.)
How does the Social Security Administration pay benefits?
- Monthly payments can be transferred into a recipient’s bank account by direct deposit
- Benefits can be loaded onto the Direct Express Card, a debit card for federal disbursements made to people without a bank account
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