Social Security payment dates for March 2026: When to expect benefits

March Social Security checks will be sent to recipients in the coming weeks, with Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits arriving earlier than usual.

Social Security typically pays benefits on Wednesdays. The first wave of payments will be sent on the second Wednesday of the month, March 11, with subsequent payments going out on the third (March 18) and fourth (March 25) Wednesdays, according to the Social Security Administration’s calendar.

Those who get Supplemental Security Income checks will receive their March 2026 checks on Friday, Feb. 27, ahead of the weekend. April’s SSI checks will be issued on their regular date, Wednesday, April 1.

In Massachusetts, more than 1.3 million people receive Social Security benefits, or about 1 in 5 people in the state, according to Congressional Statistics from December 2024. Nearly 71 million Americans get Social Security, and 7.4 million get SSI, according to January 2026 numbers from the Social Security Administration.

And with a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) that took effect in January, recipients should be getting at least $56 more per month, on average, than before, according to the SSA.

Here’s what to know about this year’s Social Security benefits.

Social Security payment schedule for March 2026

The Social Security Administration’s yearly distribution schedule for 2026 is available online for recipients to use for budgeting purposes.

Regular Social Security retirement benefits are slated to be distributed on the SSA’s usual schedule based on birth date:

• Wednesday, March 11: Birth dates between the first and 10th of the month.

• Wednesday, March 18: Birth dates between the 11th and 20th of the month.

• Wednesday, March 25: Birth dates between the 21st and 31st of the month.

Those who began getting benefits before May 1997 will be paid on Tuesday, March 3.

Recipients of Supplemental Security Income checks will be issued their March payments on Friday, Feb. 27, as the first of March falls on a Sunday.

What is SSI?

Supplemental Security Income provides monthly benefits to those with limited income or resources who are 65 or older, blind, or have a qualifying disability. Children with a qualifying disability can also get SSI, according to the SSA’s website.

Adults who qualify for SSI generally do not have monthly wages above $2,073.

Those eligible for SSI can begin the application process online, in person at your local Social Security office or by calling 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time during the work week.

SSI payment schedule for 2026

SSI checks will be sent out on the following dates in 2026, according to the SSA calendar:

• Friday, Feb. 27, 2026: March 2026 payment

• Wednesday, April 1, 2026: April 2026 payment

• Friday, May 1, 2026: May 2026 payment

• Monday, June 1, 2026: June 2026 payment

• Wednesday, July 1, 2026: July 2026 payment

• Friday, July 31, 2026: August 2026 payment

• Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026: September 2026 payment

• Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026: October 2026 payment

• Friday, Oct. 30, 2026: November 2026 payment

• Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2026: December 2026 payment

What do I do if my scheduled payment date passes without payment?

The Social Security Administration suggests that if you don’t receive your payment on the expected date, allow three additional mailing days before contacting the agency. Most will arrive on time because 99% of beneficiaries are paid electronically.

Where is a Social Security office in Massachusetts?

There are 30 Social Security Field Offices, two Disability Determination Service offices, and three locations for the Office of Hearings Operations in Massachusetts. To find the one closest to you, use the Social Security Office Locator.

When can you start collecting Social Security?

Everyone can start receiving reduced Social Security benefits as early as age 62. However, waiting until full retirement age results in a larger monthly payment. That age has gradually increased in recent years, rising by two months for each successive birth year.

For example, if you were born in 1958, your full retirement age is 66 years and 8 months, while those born in 1959 reach it at 66 years and 10 months. For anyone born in 1960 or later, the full retirement age is 67.

You can calculate your full retirement age on the SSA website.

Mike Snider of USA TODAY contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Social Security payments: Schedule for March 2026