When you receive your 2026 Social Security payment is determined, with a few exceptions, by your date of birth. However, if you received Social Security before May 1997 or are receiving both Social Security & SSI, Social Security is paid on the 3rd and SSI on the 1st. If your payment date falls on a federal holiday or weekend, you can expect to receive that month’s payment on the weekday immediately prior.
The Social Security annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2026 is 2.8%, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced on Friday, October 24. This is among the smallest COLA increases since 2020, as expected, and follows a 2.5% increase in 2025. This matches the estimate provided by David Payne, staff economist for the Kiplinger Letter.
The government shutdown had delayed the release of the COLA announcement, which usually happens on October 15.
The average monthly social security check
In August 2025, the average Social Security monthly check for all retirement beneficiaries was $2,008.31, according to the Social Security Administration's Monthly Snapshot (SSA). If you are interested in knowing 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.
Schedule of Social Security benefit payments in 2026
Here are all the confirmed payment dates for retirees based on the Social Security payment schedule for 2026. Just find the day of the month you were born on the left side of the table. Then, look under each month for the specific payment date.
Month/Birth date |
1st – 10th |
11th – 20th |
21st – 31st |
|---|---|---|---|
January |
Wednesday, 14th |
Wednesday, 21st |
Wednesday, 28th |
February |
Wednesday, 11th |
Wednesday, 18th |
Wednesday, 25th |
March |
Wednesday, 11th |
Wednesday, 18th |
Wednesday, 25th |
April |
Wednesday, 8th |
Wednesday, 15th |
Wednesday, 22nd |
May |
Wednesday, 13th |
Wednesday, 20th |
Wednesday, 27th |
June |
Wednesday, 10th |
Wednesday, 17th |
Wednesday, 24th |
July |
Wednesday, 8th |
Wednesday, 15th |
Wednesday, 22nd |
August |
Wednesday, 12th |
Wednesday, 19th |
Wednesday, 26th |
September |
Wednesday, 9th |
Wednesday, 16th |
Wednesday, 23rd |
October |
Wednesday, 14th |
Wednesday, 21th |
Wednesday, 28th |
November |
Tuesday, 10th |
Wednesday, 18th |
Wednesday, 25th |
December |
Wednesday, 9th |
Wednesday, 16th |
Wednesday, 23rd |
Why you should have a "my Social Security" account
You should definitely have a "my Social Security" account. For starters, during a government shutdown, you can use your my Social Security account to access your account information without disruption. The account can help you manage tasks such as requesting a replacement Social Security card, receiving updates about the COLA, updating your direct deposit information, and getting your Social Security 1099 form. And, if you are concerned about mail theft or travel often, you can opt out of mailed notices for those available online.
