Social Security payments are paid on the second, third, or fourth Wednesday of the month, depending on your birthday. Supplemental Security Income is generally paid at the beginning of every month.
And, since Social Security is a source of retirement income for almost seven in 10 Americans (69%), it's important to know when your check will arrive so you can budget and manage your finances.
To learn more about SS benefit payments and how your check measures up to peers, take a look at what the average Social Security check is by age. Then, take a look at the six changes to Social Security this year.
Social Security Disability Insurance benefits
If you receive both Social Security and SSI (Supplemental Security Income) or you started receiving retirement, spousal or survivor benefits before May 1997, your check will typically arrive on the third of every month. However, if that date lands on a holiday or a weekend, like it does in May 2026, your benefits will arrive earlier.
Also, if you get auxiliary benefits on someone else’s earnings record, spousal or survivor benefits, for example, your payment date is determined by that person’s birthday, not yours.
May Social Security payment dates
The Social Security Administration (SSA) prepares payment schedules before distributing benefits, ensuring you receive your payments on time.
These are the dates you can expect your monthly payments for May 2026 (PDF):
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May 1 - You'll receive a Social Security payment on this date if:
- You live outside the U.S.
- You receive both SSI and Social Security benefits
- Your state pays your Medicare premiums
- You filed for Social Security benefits before 1997
- May 13 - You should receive your Social Security payment on the second Wednesday of the month if your birthday falls on any day from the first to the 10th of your birth month.
- May 20 - If your birthday falls on any day from the 11th to the 20th of your birth month, you’ll get your Social Security payment on the third Wednesday of the month.
- May 27 - You’ll get your Social Security payment on the fourth Wednesday of the month if your birthday falls after the 20th of your birth month.
For a more detailed schedule, see Social Security Payment Schedule for 2026.
Medicare Part B premiums taking a bigger chunk out of your Social Security checks
If you're like most Social Security beneficiaries who have their Medicare Part B premiums deducted directly from their Social Security check each month, by now you've likely noticed a bigger chunk taken out of your check. In 2025, the Part B premium was $185 per month. The premium climbed to $202.90 in 2026. That's a $17.90 difference.
But don't panic just yet. Medicare has a hold harmless provision that ensures that any increase to your Medicare Part B premium never causes your Social Security benefit to decrease. At worst, you'll continue to receive the same benefit you got in 2025.
How to report a missing Social Security payment
If you don’t receive your electronic payments on the scheduled date, contact your bank or financial institution. Sometimes, the Social Security Administration experiences a delay in posting your payment.
If you still need help, call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or contact your local Social Security office.
