SSI and SSDI Benefit Payment Schedule for 2026

SSDI and SSI benefit payment schedule infographic simpleWhile Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) payments and their corresponding schedule are determined by your date of birth, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments are almost always delivered on the first day of each month unless that date falls on a weekend or federal holiday. In that case, the SSI payment will be delivered the closest preceding business day.
2026 SSI and SSDI Payments – Key Takeaways
✓ SSI Payment Timing: SSI payments arrive on the 1st of each month unless that date falls on a weekend or federal holiday, in which case they arrive the closest preceding business day. When you receive an early payment, it covers the following month and is not extra money.
✓ SSDI Payment Schedule: If you started receiving SSDI after May 1997, your payment date is determined by your birthday. Payments arrive on Wednesdays: the 2nd Wednesday for birthdays on the 1st through 10th, the 3rd Wednesday for the 11th through 20th, and the 4th Wednesday for the 21st through 31st.
✓ 2026 Maximum Amounts: The maximum federal SSI amounts for 2026 are $994 per month for individuals, $1,491 for eligible couples, and $498 for essential persons, reflecting a 2.8% Cost-of-Living Adjustment.
Key Terms
Supplemental Security Income (SSI): A monthly benefit program run by the Social Security Administration that helps people who have disabilities or are older and have little income or money.
SSI Payment Date: The day your SSI money is scheduled to be paid, usually the 1st of the month.
Early SSI Payment: An SSI payment that arrives before the 1st because the normal payment date falls on a weekend or federal holiday. This is not extra money and pays for the next month.
SSDI Payment Date: The day your SSDI money is scheduled to be paid, determined by your date of birth. Payments are made on the second, third, or fourth Wednesday of each month.
Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA): A yearly increase to SSI and SSDI payments that helps benefits keep up with rising prices. Payments in 2026 include a 2.8% COLA.
 

To make things a bit easier, our team has reviewed the Social Security Administration’s official payment documentation and calendars to give you a clear, month-by-month overview of when SSI and SSDI benefits are scheduled to arrive in 2026.

The Supplemental Security Income Payment Dates for 2026

You can see the updated payment schedule for SSI directly on SSA.gov here.

SSI Payment Date Day of Week SSI Payment Month Notes
December 31, 2025 Wednesday January 2026 Paid on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025 because January 1, 2026 is a federal holiday
January 30, 2026 Friday February 2026 Paid early because Feb. 1, 2026 falls on a weekend
February 27, 2026 Friday March 2026 Paid early because Mar. 1, 2026 falls on a weekend
April 1, 2026 Wednesday April 2026  
May 1, 2026 Friday May 2026  
June 1, 2026 Monday June 2026  
July 1, 2026 Wednesday July 2026  
July 31, 2026 Friday August 2026 Paid early because Aug. 1, 2026 falls on a weekend
September 1, 2026 Tuesday September 2026  
October 1, 2026 Thursday October 2026  
October 30, 2026 Friday November 2026 Paid early because Nov. 1, 2026 falls on a weekend
December 1, 2026 Tuesday December 2026  
December 31, 2026 Thursday January 2027 Paid early because Jan. 1, 2027 is a federal holiday

The Social Security Disability Insurance Payment Dates for 2026

If you started receiving SSDI benefits after May 1997, your payment date is determined by your birthday. The Social Security Administration groups recipients into three tiers and pays benefits on Wednesdays:

  • Birthday on the 1st – 10th: Paid on the second Wednesday of the month
  • Birthday on the 11th – 20th: Paid on the third Wednesday of the month
  • Birthday on the 21st – 31st: Paid on the fourth Wednesday of the month

If you received Social Security before May 1997 or if you receive both Social Security and SSI, your Social Security payment is made on the 3rd of the month and your SSI payment on the 1st.

Month Birthday 1st – 10th (2nd Wednesday) Birthday 11th – 20th (3rd Wednesday) Birthday 21st – 31st (4th Wednesday)
January Jan. 14 Jan. 21 Jan. 28
February Feb. 11 Feb. 18 Feb. 25
March Mar. 11 Mar. 18 Mar. 25
April Apr. 8 Apr. 15 Apr. 22
May May 13 May 20 May 27
June Jun. 10 Jun. 17 Jun. 24
July Jul. 8 Jul. 15 Jul. 22
August Aug. 12 Aug. 19 Aug. 26
September Sep. 9 Sep. 16 Sep. 23
October Oct. 14 Oct. 21 Oct. 28
November* Nov. 10* Nov. 18 Nov. 25
December Dec. 9 Dec. 16 Dec. 23
*November 11, 2026 (Veterans Day) falls on the 2nd Wednesday. Payment for the 1st–10th birthday group is shifted to Tuesday, November 10. Source: SSA Publication No. 05-10031.

Why Some Supplemental Security Income Payments Arrive Early

If you have a Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payment arrive early in 2026, this isn’t a cause for concern. First, we recommend cross-referencing your payment arrival date with the date on: a) The PDF provided on the Social Security Administration website b) Your bank’s confirmed deposit date c) The dates provided in this calendar If you receive an SSI payment early, it’s most likely intentional. Most SSI payments arrive early because the usual payment date (the 1st of each month) happens to fall on a weekend or federal holiday. However, please note: When you receive an SSI benefit payment early, it covers the following month and is not extra money.

Why Some Months Have Two Payments

In most cases where you observe two SSI payments in a single month, one payment will fall on the 1st of that month and the second payment will fall toward the end of that month. This is because:

  1. The payment for SSI received on the 1st is for the current month
  2. The payment received for SSI in the same month but at the end is for the following month

SSI Payment Amounts for 2026: A Quick Overview

SSI Category 2026 Maximum Federal SSI Amount
Individual $994 per month
Eligible couple $1,491 per month
Essential person $498 per month

What To Do If Your Supplemental Security Income Payment Is Late

Again, this can be normal and is not an immediate cause for concern. SSI payments can be delayed for a number of reasons including:

  • Bank holiday or weekend timing
  • Income reported late or incorrectly
  • Address or account changes
  • Ongoing eligibility review
  • System processing delays

If none of these elements are satisfied and you are still missing your monthly benefit payment, we recommend contacting the Social Security Administration directly.

How Michael Armstrong Law Fits Into The Equation

While we cannot assist with helping you find a delayed or missing payment, we can help you with your Supplemental Security Income appeals process if your initial application for SSI was denied. The dedicated and compassionate team at Michael Armstrong Law has over three decades of combined experience helping the people of Albuquerque and New Mexico receive the benefits they deserve. Call Us Today Email Our Team Online Intake Form

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