Planning your finances around SSI payments requires knowing exactly when your money will arrive. Here's the complete 2026 SSI payment schedule.
In this article, we'll cover:
- 2026 SSI payment dates
- Why payments shift for weekends/holidays
- How to track your payment
- Getting paid early with Purple
2026 SSI Payment Schedule
SSI payments are scheduled for the 1st of each month. When the 1st falls on a weekend or federal holiday, payments arrive the business day before.
Complete 2026 SSI Payment Calendar:
| Month | Scheduled Date | Actual Payment Date | |-------|---------------|---------------------| | January | January 1 | December 31, 2025 (Wed)* | | February | February 1 | January 30, 2026 (Fri)** | | March | March 1 | February 27, 2026 (Fri)** | | April | April 1 | April 1, 2026 (Wed) | | May | May 1 | May 1, 2026 (Fri) | | June | June 1 | June 1, 2026 (Mon) | | July | July 1 | July 1, 2026 (Wed) | | August | August 1 | July 31, 2026 (Fri)** | | September | September 1 | September 1, 2026 (Tue) | | October | October 1 | October 1, 2026 (Thu) | | November | November 1 | October 30, 2026 (Fri)** | | December | December 1 | December 1, 2026 (Tue) |
*January 1 is New Year's Day (federal holiday) **When the 1st falls on a weekend
Why SSI Payment Dates Change
Federal holiday rule:
- SSI can't be paid on federal holidays
- Payment moves to the prior business day
- New Year's Day affects January payment
Weekend rule:
- SSI can't be paid on weekends
- Saturday payments move to Friday
- Sunday payments move to Friday
This means:
- Some months you get paid early
- You might get two payments close together
- Budget accordingly for these months
Two Payments Close Together
Watch for these situations in 2026:
Late January/Early February:
- January payment: December 31, 2025
- February payment: January 30, 2026
- Only 30 days apart
Late February/Early March:
- February payment: January 30, 2026
- March payment: February 27, 2026
- Only 28 days apart
Budget tip: When payments come close together, the gap until the next payment is longer. Plan ahead for these months.
2026 SSI Payment Amount
Maximum federal SSI benefit (2026):
- Individual: $967/month
- Couple: $1,450/month
Your actual amount may differ:
- State supplements vary
- Income reduces benefits
- Living situation affects amount
- In-kind support may reduce payment
How to Check Your Payment Status
My Social Security account:
- Go to ssa.gov/myaccount
- Sign in or create account
- View payment history
- Check upcoming payments
SSA phone:
- 1-800-772-1213
- TTY: 1-800-325-0778
- Monday-Friday, 8am-7pm
Your bank:
- Check pending deposits
- Set up deposit alerts
- Review transaction history
Payment Methods
Direct deposit:
- Fastest method
- Usually available by morning
- Most secure option
- Required for new recipients
Direct Express card:
- Prepaid debit card from Treasury
- Good if no bank account
- Funds available on payment date
Purple account:
- Get SSI up to 4 days early
- No minimum balance fees
- Instant deposit notifications
- Easy balance tracking
Tips for Managing SSI Payments
Track the schedule:
- Mark payment dates on calendar
- Set phone reminders
- Know when weekends/holidays shift dates
- Plan bills around payments
Budget for irregular months:
- When two payments come close
- Longer wait follows
- Set aside extra during short months
- Avoid overspending
Monitor the $2,000 limit:
- Check balance before the 1st
- Spend down if needed
- Don't go over resource limit
- Track all accounts
Common Questions
Why did I get paid early? The 1st fell on a weekend or holiday, so SSA paid on the prior business day.
When is my first SSI payment? New recipients get their first payment the month after approval, on the 1st (or prior business day).
Can I change my payment date? No. SSI always pays on the 1st of the month (or prior business day). You cannot choose a different date.
What if my payment doesn't arrive? Wait until end of business day, then contact SSA if it hasn't posted.
How Purple Helps
Purple helps you get your SSI faster:
- Receive SSI up to 4 days early
- Know exactly when money arrives
- Instant notifications for deposits
- No fees eating into your benefits
- Easy tracking for resource limit
With Purple, you don't have to wait until the official payment date to access your SSI.