Social Security makes rare payment change in November
Traditional Social Security is paid on a set schedule based on birth date.
People born from the 1st – 10th are paid on the second Wednesday of the month; people born 11th – 20th are paid on the third Wednesday; and people born 21st – 31st are paid on the fourth Wednesday.
Unlike Supplemental Security Income payments – payable on the first of each month but subject to change due to weekends and holidays – Social Security’s tie to Wednesdays is stable — until November 2026, that is.
This year, the Veterans Day federal holiday falls on Wednesday, Nov. 11, the second Wednesday of the month. This means people with birthdays from the 1st-10th of the month will receive their payments a day early on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
Payments for the rest of the month will fall on their regular dates.
More than 56 million retirees and their dependents receive Social Security benefits. The average monthly benefit for retired workers is $2,084.
SSI payments
There are significant payment changes for SSI recipients for the remainder of 2026.
SSI payments were issued Thursday, Oct. 1, and then again on Friday, Oct. 30 because Nov. 1 falls on a Sunday. This means SSI recipients will get two October payments and none in November.
Two payments will be issued in December as well. The first will come Tuesday, Dec. 1 and the second on Thursday, Dec. 31. No payment will be issued on New Year’s Day, Friday, Jan. 1, 2027.
More than 7 million people in the U.S. receive benefits through Supplemental Security Income. Payments average about $740 a month and go to low-income senior citizens, people with disabilities and those who are blind.
2026 Social Security payment schedule
Here are SSI and Social Security payment dates for the remainder of 2026:
October
- Wednesday, Oct. 14 – Social Security for people with birthdates 1st -10th
- Wednesday, Oct. 21 – Social Security for people with birthdates 11st -20th
- Wednesday, Oct. 28 – Social Security for people with birthdates 21st -31st
- Friday, Oct. 30 – SSI payment made early since Nov. 1 falls on a Sunday
November
- Tuesday, Nov 3 – Social Security for people who began receiving benefits before May 1997 or are receiving both Social Security and SSI
- Tuesday, Nov 10 – Social Security for people with birthdates 1st -10th. Paid a day early since Nov. 11 is Veterans Day, a federal holiday.
- Wednesday, Nov. 18 – Social Security for people with birthdates 11st -20th
- Wednesday, Nov. 25 – Social Security for people with birthdates 21st -31st
December
- Tuesday, Dec. 1 – SSI payments
- Thursday, Dec. 3 – Social Security for people who began receiving benefits before May 1997 or are receiving both Social Security and SSI
- Wednesday, Dec. 9 – Social Security for people with birthdates 1st -10th
- Wednesday, Dec. 16 – Social Security for people with birthdates 11st -20th
- Wednesday, Dec. 23 – Social Security for people with birthdates 21st -31st
- Thursday, Dec. 31 – SSI payments for January 2027 since Jan. 1 is the New Year’s federal holiday