Find out when the SSA is sending out this month’s Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income payments.
When do Social Security and SSI go out in May 2026? Complete payment schedule
At May’s midway stage, two groups of beneficiaries in the U.S. are still waiting for this month’s Social Security benefits.
Read on for full details about the payment timeline for the Social Security program, which sends out retirement, disability and survivor benefits to 71 million Americans.
You’ll also find the lowdown on May’s schedule for the Supplemental Security Income scheme (SSI):
Three-Wednesdays Social Security cycle: May status update
Many Social Security recipients are paid on the second, third or fourth Wednesday in each month, depending on their date of birth.
In May, this birthday-dependent cycle kicked in on the 13th, with two further payment runs to follow:
- 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 claim Social Security based on someone else’s work record, the Social Security Administration (SSA) uses the other person’s birthday.
What other payment dates are on the SSA’s May schedule?
On Friday, May 1, three groups of SSA beneficiaries were to receive their latest monthly payment:
- SSI recipients
A benefit with over seven million recipients nationwide, SSI is sent out on the first day of each month.
A scheme for certain low-income individuals, SSI is separate from Social Security. Both are run by the SSA, but SSI differs as it is a solely needs-based scheme: eligibility is not work record-dependent.
- Certain long-term Social Security beneficiaries
May 1 was this month’s Social Security distribution date for claimants who signed up before May 1997. Their payment run normally falls on the third of the month, but was brought forward as May 3 was a Sunday.
- Double beneficiaries: Social Security + SSI
Social Security was also issued two days early to the just over 2.5 million beneficiaries who combine retirement, disability or survivor pay with SSI.
How much is paid to Social Security and SSI beneficiaries?
- Retirement benefits: $2,026.41/month
- Disability benefits: $1,493.20/month
- Survivor benefits: $1,625.56/month
- SSI benefits: $738.22/month
(Average benefit, per SSA stats.)
How does the Social Security Administration pay out benefits?
- Monthly payments can be transferred into a beneficiary’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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