Social Security Payment Schedule 2026
Last verified: against the SSA Schedule of Social Security Benefit Payments 2026 (PDF).
The Social Security Administration pays most benefits on a Wednesday determined by your birthday. Find your group in the table below. Dates marked "moved earlier" fell on a weekend or holiday. Use the payment date calculator to see only your dates.
| Month | Born 1st–10th 2nd Wednesday | Born 11th–20th 3rd Wednesday | Born 21st–31st 4th Wednesday | Benefits before May 1997, or SS + SSI 3rd of month | SSI 1st of month |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Wednesday, January 14, 2026 | Wednesday, January 21, 2026 | Wednesday, January 28, 2026 | Friday, January 2, 2026 Moved earlier: Saturday | Wednesday, December 31, 2025 Moved earlier: federal holiday |
| February | Wednesday, February 11, 2026 | Wednesday, February 18, 2026 | Wednesday, February 25, 2026 | Tuesday, February 3, 2026 | Friday, January 30, 2026 Moved earlier: Sunday |
| March | Wednesday, March 11, 2026 | Wednesday, March 18, 2026 | Wednesday, March 25, 2026 | Tuesday, March 3, 2026 | Friday, February 27, 2026 Moved earlier: Sunday |
| April | Wednesday, April 8, 2026 | Wednesday, April 15, 2026 | Wednesday, April 22, 2026 | Friday, April 3, 2026 | Wednesday, April 1, 2026 |
| May | Wednesday, May 13, 2026 | Wednesday, May 20, 2026 | Wednesday, May 27, 2026 | Friday, May 1, 2026 Moved earlier: Sunday | Friday, May 1, 2026 |
| June | Wednesday, June 10, 2026 | Wednesday, June 17, 2026 | Wednesday, June 24, 2026 | Wednesday, June 3, 2026 | Monday, June 1, 2026 |
| July | Wednesday, July 8, 2026 | Wednesday, July 15, 2026 | Wednesday, July 22, 2026 | Thursday, July 2, 2026 Moved earlier: federal holiday | Wednesday, July 1, 2026 |
| August | Wednesday, August 12, 2026 | Wednesday, August 19, 2026 | Wednesday, August 26, 2026 | Monday, August 3, 2026 | Friday, July 31, 2026 Moved earlier: Saturday |
| September | Wednesday, September 9, 2026 | Wednesday, September 16, 2026 | Wednesday, September 23, 2026 | Thursday, September 3, 2026 | Tuesday, September 1, 2026 |
| October | Wednesday, October 14, 2026 | Wednesday, October 21, 2026 | Wednesday, October 28, 2026 | Friday, October 2, 2026 Moved earlier: Saturday | Thursday, October 1, 2026 |
| November | Tuesday, November 10, 2026 Moved earlier: federal holiday | Wednesday, November 18, 2026 | Wednesday, November 25, 2026 | Tuesday, November 3, 2026 | Friday, October 30, 2026 Moved earlier: Sunday |
| December | Wednesday, December 9, 2026 | Wednesday, December 16, 2026 | Wednesday, December 23, 2026 | Thursday, December 3, 2026 | Tuesday, December 1, 2026 |
"Moved earlier" means the usual date fell on a weekend or federal holiday, so the payment is made on the business day before.
2026 dates that move because of a weekend or holiday
- January, SSI: scheduled Thursday, January 1, 2026, paid Wednesday, December 31, 2025 (federal holiday).
- January, Benefits before May 1997 / SS + SSI: scheduled Saturday, January 3, 2026, paid Friday, January 2, 2026 (Saturday).
- February, SSI: scheduled Sunday, February 1, 2026, paid Friday, January 30, 2026 (Sunday).
- March, SSI: scheduled Sunday, March 1, 2026, paid Friday, February 27, 2026 (Sunday).
- May, Benefits before May 1997 / SS + SSI: scheduled Sunday, May 3, 2026, paid Friday, May 1, 2026 (Sunday).
- July, Benefits before May 1997 / SS + SSI: scheduled Friday, July 3, 2026, paid Thursday, July 2, 2026 (federal holiday).
- August, SSI: scheduled Saturday, August 1, 2026, paid Friday, July 31, 2026 (Saturday).
- October, Benefits before May 1997 / SS + SSI: scheduled Saturday, October 3, 2026, paid Friday, October 2, 2026 (Saturday).
- November, SSI: scheduled Sunday, November 1, 2026, paid Friday, October 30, 2026 (Sunday).
- November, Born 1st–10th: scheduled Wednesday, November 11, 2026, paid Tuesday, November 10, 2026 (federal holiday).
How the schedule works
Benefits paid on Birth date on: Second Wednesday 1st - 10th; Third Wednesday 11th - 20th; Fourth Wednesday 21st - 31st. If you received Social Security before May 1997 or if receiving both Social Security & SSI, Social Security is paid on the 3rd and SSI on the 1st.
Federal holidays applied: January 1, 2026; January 19, 2026; February 16, 2026; May 25, 2026; June 19, 2026; July 3, 2026; September 7, 2026; October 12, 2026; November 11, 2026; November 26, 2026; December 25, 2026 (OPM federal holiday list).
The SSA PDF marks payment dates graphically (colored calendar cells); its text layer contains only the rules text and plain month grids. Wednesday dates were computed from the calendar and, for 2027, match the dates extracted from the PDF. SSI and 3rd-of-month shifted dates are derived by applying SSA's published weekend/holiday rule (KA-02531) to the OPM federal holiday list. Confirm visually against the PDF before publishing.
Looking for another year? See the 2027 payment schedule.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my 2026 Social Security payment date different from my neighbor's?
Since 1997, SSA pays retirement, survivor and disability benefits on one of three Wednesdays based on the beneficiary's birthday: the 2nd Wednesday for the 1st–10th, the 3rd Wednesday for the 11th–20th, and the 4th Wednesday for the 21st–31st. People who started benefits before May 1997, or who also receive SSI, are paid on the 3rd.
What happens when the payment date is a weekend or holiday?
If your regularly scheduled payment date falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal public holiday, benefits will be paid the business day before your due date.
When is SSI paid if the 1st is a weekend?
When the first day of the month falls on the weekend or a Federal holiday, you receive your SSI payment on the last business day before the first day of the month.
My payment did not arrive. What should I do?
If you don't receive your payment on the expected date, please allow three additional mailing days before contacting Social Security.