Overview
- Retirement benefits go out Wednesday, April 8 for people born on the 1st–10th, then April 15 for 11th–20th birthdays, and April 22 for 21st–31st, according to the SSA’s 2026 calendar.
- Supplemental Security Income pays on the first business day of the month, with 2026 maximums set at $994 for an eligible individual and $1,491 for an eligible couple.
- People who also receive SSI or who started Social Security before May 1997 are paid earlier in the month than those on the birth‑date schedule.
- Benefit amounts vary widely, from an average $2,071.30 for retired workers to about $5,181 a month for a maximum earner who claims at age 70.
- If a scheduled payment does not arrive, the SSA advises waiting up to three business days before contacting the agency, and its online calendar can help confirm dates.