Social Security payment schedule in 2026 features some changes: Here’s what we know

2026 is here, and for millions of Americans who receive Social Security payments, it comes with a slight raise. Last year, the Social Security Administration announced an annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for beneficiaries in 2026 of 2.8%.

The agency estimates the increase will raise the average benefit by $56 per month. Roughly 75 million Americans are expected to receive Social Security payments or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments in 2026.

Benefits are typically issued on the same day of the month, depending on which payment you receive and your date of birth. However, because certain federal holidays or weekend days fall on scheduled payment dates, the schedule has some changes to it in 2026.

Beneficiaries who have received Social Security since before May 1997, or who receive both Social Security and SSI are paid on a different schedule. In that case, Social Security is paid on the 3rd of each month, while SSI is paid on the 1st.

For Social Security payments, recipients born between the 1st and the 10th of each month are paid on the second Wednesday of the month. Those born between the 11th and 20th are paid on the third Wednesday, while those born between the 21st and 31st are paid on the fourth Wednesday.

The full 2026 Social Security payment schedule is as follows:

• January – 14, 21 or 28

• February – 11, 18 or 25

• March – 11, 18 or 25

• April – 8, 15 or 22

• May – 13, 20 and 27

• June – 10, 17 or 24

• July – 8, 15 or 22

• August – 12, 19 or 26

• September – 9, 16 or 23

• October – 14, 21 or 28

• November – 10, 18 or 25 (Nov. 11 is Veterans Day).

• December – 9, 16 or 23

SSI payments are issued on the first day of the month, unless that date falls on a weekend or federal holiday. In those cases, beneficiaries may receive two payments in a month, leading to a month where they receive no payments.

Changes to SSI schedule are as follows:

• February’s payment will be made on Jan. 30 because Feb. 1 falls on a Sunday.

• March’s payment will be made on Feb. 27 because March 1 falls on a Sunday, meaning there is no payment in March.

• August’s payment will be made on July 31 because Aug. 1 falls on a Saturday, meaning there is no payment in August.

• November’s payment will be made Oct. 30 because Nov. 1 falls on a Sunday, meaning there is no payment in November.

• January 2027’s payment will be made on Dec. 31 because Jan. 1, 2027 is a federal holiday.

Read the original article on mlive.com.