Overview
- The Social Security Administration released the new calendars on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, and confirmed October 2026 payment dates for most post‑May‑1997 beneficiaries as Oct. 14, Oct. 21, and Oct. 28.
- Supplemental Security Income recipients will be paid on the first business day of the month with October SSI listed for Oct. 1 and an additional Oct. 30 date, and people who started benefits before May 1997 are scheduled for Oct. 3.
- The SSA also published the full 2027 schedule showing the second, third or fourth Wednesday rule for post‑1997 retirees and a separate timetable for SSI and pre‑1997 recipients, with any date falling on a weekend or federal holiday moved to the preceding weekday.
- The agency notes maximum monthly retirement benefits vary by claiming age, with examples of about $2,969 at age 62 and up to $5,181 at age 70, figures beneficiaries can check against their personal estimates in the SSA 'my Social Security' portal.
- The calendars provide short‑term clarity for monthly planning while the Social Security Board of Trustees’ report continues to warn that the retirement trust fund could be exhausted by 2032 unless Congress enacts changes.