How Are Payment Dates Chosen for SSDI and SSI?

Are you wondering when you'll receive your Social Security check each month? The date you receive your monthly disability payments depends on whether you're receiving SSI or SSDI, or a combination of the two. If you're receiving SSDI alone, your payment date depends on your birthday. If you get SSI, your payment date is around the beginning of the month.

SSDI Disability Payment Dates Depend on Your Birthday

If you started receiving SSDI benefits after 1997, the date you receive your payment depends on your birthday.

• If your birthday is on the 1st–10th of a month, your SSDI checks or direct deposit will arrive on the second Wednesday of every month.
• If your birthday is on the 11th–20th of a month, your SSDI checks or direct deposit will arrive on the third Wednesday of every month.
• If your birthday is on the 21st–31st of a month, your SSDI checks or direct deposit will arrive on the fourth Wednesday of every month.

If you receive benefits based on your spouse's work record or a parent's work record, the payment date is based on your spouse's or parent's birth date.

Keep in mind that Social Security now wants all SSDI recipients to sign up to receive their payments through direct deposit, the Direct Express® card program, or through an Electronic Transfer Account.

SSDI Payment Schedule for 2026

You can click the calendar or see the lists below for the specific payment dates for 2026.

Here's the SSDI payment schedule for 2026 for those whose birthdays fall on the 1st through the 10th of their birth month:

• January 14
• February 11
• March 11
• April 8
• May 13
• June 10
• July 8
• August 12
• September 9
• October 14
• November 10
• December 9

This is the SSDI payment schedule for 2026 for those whose birthdays fall on the 11th through the 20th of their birth month:

• January 21
• February 18
• March 18
• April 15
• May 20
• June 17
• July 15
• August 19
• September 16
• October 21
• November 18
• December 16

This is the SSDI payment schedule for 2026 for those whose birthdays fall on the 21st through the 31st of their birth month:

• January 28
• February 25
• March 25
• April 22
• May 27
• June 24
• July 22
• August 26
• September 23
• October 28
• November 25
• December 23

Source: Social Security Publication No. EN-05-10031-2026.

Who Receives Social Security Payments on the 3rd of the Month?

If you started receiving SSDI benefits in 1997 or earlier, you'll receive your payments on the 3rd day of the month, no matter when your birthday is. If the 3rd is on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, your benefits will be deposited on the banking day before.

This is the SSDI payment schedule for 2026 for people who were approved for benefits in 1997 or earlier (or who are also receiving SSI):

• January 2
• February 3
• March 3
• April 3
• May 1
• June 3
• July 2
• August 3
• September 3
• October 2
• November 3
• December 3

In some circumstances, if you're receiving SSDI benefits on the 3rd of the month, you can change your payment date. In that case, your birth date will determine what day your benefits will arrive, based on the lists above.

SSI Disability Payment Dates

SSI benefits are paid on the 1st day of each month. If the 1st is on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, your benefits will be deposited on the banking day before. For example, if the 1st is a Sunday, you should receive your check the Friday before (assuming that Friday isn't a legal holiday).

Note that your payment that comes on the 1st of the month is actually your benefit from the prior month. For example, a March 1st check would actually be for the SSI benefits from February.

SSI checks come out early several times a year. Since January 1 is a holiday, SSI payments for January are usually paid on the last day of December that isn't a holiday. For instance, the SSI payment for January 2026 was deposited on Friday, December 31, 2025. The SSI payment for January 2027 will be deposited on December 31, 2026 (with the cost-of-living adjustment).

SSI checks are also deposited early when the 1st of the month falls on a Saturday or Sunday, which happens in February, March, August, and November of 2026.

SSI recipients are now required to receive their payments through direct deposit, the Direct Express® card program, or through an Electronic Transfer Account.

SSI Payment Schedule for 2026

See the specific payment dates for 2026 by clicking the calendar or seeing the list below.

This is the SSI payment schedule for 2026:

• December 31, 2025 (January 2026 payment)
• January 30
• February 27
• April 1
• May 1
• June 1
• July 1
• July 31
• September 1
• October 1
• October 30
• December 1
• December 31

Source: Social Security Publication No. EN-05-10031-2026.

SSI and SSDI Combined Payment Schedule

If you're receiving SSI and SSDI payments at the same time, your SSDI payment date will be on the 3rd day of the month and your SSI payment will be on the 1st day of the month (with the exception of weekends and legal holidays). If the 3rd of the month falls on a Monday, you should see the deposit on Monday morning.

If you'd like to change the date of your Social Security payment, you may be able to move it to one based on your birthday (see the SSDI payment schedule section, above).

What If I Haven't Received My SSI Check This Month?

If you haven't received your check or deposit by the 4th banking day of the month, the Social Security Administration (SSA) recommends calling the agency at 800-772-1213.

How Long Does it Take to Get Your First SSI Check?

If you've just been approved for SSI, you're probably wondering when you'll receive your first SSI check. The SSA says it should take about a month, but some people have to wait a bit longer. In our disability survey, over half of SSI recipients said it took three to seven weeks to receive their first SSI check (from the date of the award letter).

Learn more about your monthly disability payments.