Social Security pays most people on a Wednesday set by their birthday. If you were born on the 1st–10th, you are paid on the second Wednesday of the month; on the 11th–20th, the third Wednesday; and on the 21st–31st, the fourth Wednesday.
The first 2027 payments, which include the 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), arrive on January 13, 20, and 27, 2027.
This page lists every 2027 payment date, the SSI dates that move early, and the rest of the 2026 dates.
Key takeaways
- Most Social Security payments in 2027 fall on the second, third, or fourth Wednesday of each month, based on your birthday.
- People who started benefits before May 1997, or who get both Social Security and SSI, are paid on the 3rd of each month.
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is paid on the 1st, but the January, May, and August 2027 payments arrive early, at the end of the month before.
- Benefits rise 3.6% in 2027. The average retired worker gets about $75 more a month, according to the Social Security Administration (SSA).
Table of Contents
Social Security payment schedule 2027 at a glance
| Month | Born 1st–10th | Born 11th–20th | Born 21st–31st | Before May 1997 or SS + SSI | SSI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 2027 | Wed, Jan 13 | Wed, Jan 20 | Wed, Jan 27 | Thu, Dec 31, 2026 | Thu, Dec 31, 2026 |
| February 2027 | Wed, Feb 10 | Wed, Feb 17 | Wed, Feb 24 | Wed, Feb 3 | Mon, Feb 1 |
| March 2027 | Wed, Mar 10 | Wed, Mar 17 | Wed, Mar 24 | Wed, Mar 3 | Mon, Mar 1 |
| April 2027 | Wed, Apr 14 | Wed, Apr 21 | Wed, Apr 28 | Fri, Apr 2 | Thu, Apr 1 |
| May 2027 | Wed, May 12 | Wed, May 19 | Wed, May 26 | Mon, May 3 | Fri, Apr 30 |
| June 2027 | Wed, Jun 9 | Wed, Jun 16 | Wed, Jun 23 | Thu, Jun 3 | Tue, Jun 1 |
| July 2027 | Wed, Jul 14 | Wed, Jul 21 | Wed, Jul 28 | Fri, Jul 2 | Thu, Jul 1 |
| August 2027 | Wed, Aug 11 | Wed, Aug 18 | Wed, Aug 25 | Tue, Aug 3 | Fri, Jul 30 |
| September 2027 | Wed, Sep 8 | Wed, Sep 15 | Wed, Sep 22 | Fri, Sep 3 | Wed, Sep 1 |
| October 2027 | Wed, Oct 13 | Wed, Oct 20 | Wed, Oct 27 | Fri, Oct 1 | Fri, Oct 1 |
| November 2027 | Wed, Nov 10 | Wed, Nov 17 | Wed, Nov 24 | Wed, Nov 3 | Mon, Nov 1 |
| December 2027 | Wed, Dec 8 | Wed, Dec 15 | Wed, Dec 22 | Fri, Dec 3 | Wed, Dec 1 |
| January 2028 | Wed, Jan 12, 2028 | Wed, Jan 19, 2028 | Wed, Jan 26, 2028 | Mon, Jan 3, 2028 | Thu, Dec 30, 2027 |
Dates in the SSI and “3rd” columns that fall in the month before are paid early because the usual date is a weekend or federal holiday. The dates match the SSA’s Schedule of Social Security Benefit Payments 2027.
How Social Security sets your payment date
Your payment date depends on when you started benefits and, for most people, on your birthday.
The SSA introduced the staggered Wednesday system in 1997; anyone who started before May 1997 kept the older 3rd-of-the-month date.
| Your situation | When you are paid |
|---|---|
| Started benefits May 1997 or later, born on the 1st–10th | Second Wednesday |
| Started benefits May 1997 or later, born on the 11th–20th | Third Wednesday |
| Started benefits May 1997 or later, born on the 21st–31st | Fourth Wednesday |
| Started benefits before May 1997 | 3rd of the month |
| Get both Social Security and SSI | Social Security on the 3rd, SSI on the 1st |
| SSI only | 1st of the month |
- Spouse, child, and survivor benefits: the date follows the birthday of the worker whose record you are paid on, not your own birthday.
- Weekends and holidays: when a payment date falls on a weekend or federal holiday, the money arrives on the business day before.
- Electronic payment: since September 30, 2025, federal benefits are paid electronically by direct deposit or Direct Express card, with limited exceptions (CBS News).
No 2027 payment Wednesday falls on a federal holiday, so every Wednesday date in 2027 is the normal one, by our count. The 2027 holidays that could clash, such as Juneteenth (observed Friday, June 18) and Veterans Day (Thursday, November 11), all land on other weekdays.
SSI payment dates 2027
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is paid on the 1st of each month. In 2027, four SSI payments arrive early, at the end of the month before.
The table shows each one and why it moves.
| Payment for | Paid on | Why it moves |
|---|---|---|
| January 2027 | Thursday, December 31, 2026 | January 1 is New Year’s Day |
| May 2027 | Friday, April 30, 2027 | May 1 is a Saturday |
| August 2027 | Friday, July 30, 2027 | August 1 is a Sunday |
| January 2028 | Thursday, December 30, 2027 | January 1, 2028, is a Saturday, and the holiday is observed on Friday, December 31 |
Because of these shifts, April, July, and December 2027 each have 2 SSI deposits, while January, May, and August have none. This is not an extra payment. The second deposit is next month’s money, so it has to last until the following payment.
Over calendar year 2027, SSI recipients still get exactly 12 deposits, by our count: January’s payment lands in 2026, and January 2028’s lands in 2027.
When the 2027 COLA reaches your payment
The 3.6% increase starts with your first payment for January 2027. SSI recipients see it first, on December 31, 2026, according to the SSA’s October 14, 2026, announcement.
| Your group | First payment with the 3.6% COLA |
|---|---|
| SSI | Thursday, December 31, 2026 |
| Before May 1997, or Social Security + SSI | Thursday, December 31, 2026 |
| Born on the 1st–10th | Wednesday, January 13, 2027 |
| Born on the 11th–20th | Wednesday, January 20, 2027 |
| Born on the 21st–31st | Wednesday, January 27, 2027 |
Your December 2026 payment does not include the raise. The SSA says COLA notices can be read online in the My Social Security Message Center from late November 2026, and paper notices go out in December.
How much is the 2027 COLA?
The 2027 COLA is 3.6%. It raises Social Security and SSI payments for about 76 million Americans, including nearly 72 million Social Security beneficiaries and about 7.3 million SSI recipients, according to the SSA.
| Figure | 2026 | 2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average retired worker benefit | $2,095 | $2,170 | +$75 a month |
| Average aged couple, both receiving | $3,238 | $3,355 | +$117 a month |
| Average disabled worker | $1,642 | $1,701 | +$59 a month |
| Maximum benefit at full retirement age | $4,152 | $4,188 | +$36 a month |
| SSI federal payment, individual | $994 | $1,029 | +$35 a month |
| SSI federal payment, couple | $1,491 | $1,544 | +$53 a month |
| Taxable maximum (earnings taxed for Social Security) | $184,500 | $192,300 | +$7,800 |
| Earnings test, under full retirement age | $24,480 a year | $25,560 a year | +$1,080 |
| Earnings test, year you reach full retirement age | $65,160 a year | $67,920 a year | +$2,760 |
Figures come from the SSA’s 2027 fact sheet; the “change” column is our arithmetic. At $1,029 a month, the 2027 SSI federal payment for one person adds up to $12,348 over the year.
The earnings test applies only if you claim benefits before full retirement age and keep working. Above the limit, the SSA withholds some benefits and pays them back later in higher monthly amounts.
Medicare Part B and your 2027 check
If Medicare Part B is taken out of your Social Security payment, your 2027 raise will be smaller than 3.6% of your gross benefit. As of November 4, 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has not announced the 2027 Part B premium.
The Medicare Trustees projected a standard Part B premium of $209.50 a month in 2027, up $6.60 from $202.90 in 2026, as reported by AARP.
On that projection, the average retired worker who pays the standard premium would see the $75 raise shrink to about $68. We will update this section when CMS confirms the figure.
Remaining 2026 payment dates
The last 2026 payments fall in November and December. In November 2026, the second-Wednesday payment moves to Tuesday, November 10, because Wednesday, November 11, is Veterans Day (FOX 9).
| Group | November 2026 | December 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| SSI | Fri, Oct 30 (paid early) | Tue, Dec 1 |
| Before May 1997, or SS + SSI | Tue, Nov 3 | Thu, Dec 3 |
| Born on the 1st–10th | Tue, Nov 10 | Wed, Dec 9 |
| Born on the 11th–20th | Wed, Nov 18 | Wed, Dec 16 |
| Born on the 21st–31st | Wed, Nov 25 | Wed, Dec 23 |
SSI and 3rd-of-the-month recipients also get their January 2027 payment on Thursday, December 31, 2026, so they receive 2 payments in December.
What to do if your payment is late
If your payment has not arrived on its scheduled date, wait 3 days before contacting the SSA, as the SSA’s payment schedule advises. Banks sometimes post deposits later in the day.
- Check the date for your group in the tables above, including any early shift.
- Look at your bank account or Direct Express card after 3 days.
- Sign in to your my Social Security account to see your payment history and details.
- Call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 if the payment is still missing.
Frequently asked questions
What day will I get my Social Security check in January 2027?
If you were born on the 1st–10th, January 13, 2027; on the 11th–20th, January 20; on the 21st–31st, January 27. If you started benefits before May 1997, or get both Social Security and SSI, your January payment arrives on December 31, 2026.
Why are some SSI payments made twice in one month?
When the 1st falls on a weekend or holiday, SSI is paid on the business day before. In 2027, this puts 2 SSI deposits in April, July, and December, and none in January, May, or August. The total is still 12 payments.
Is the 3.6% COLA in my December 2026 payment?
No, unless you get SSI or are paid on the 3rd. Those groups get their January 2027 payment, with the COLA, on December 31, 2026. Everyone else sees the raise in their January 2027 payment.
Which Wednesday do I get paid on if I receive spouse or survivor benefits?
Your date follows the birthday of the worker whose record you are paid on. For example, if your spouse was born on the 15th, you are paid on the third Wednesday.
Does Social Security pay early on holidays?
Yes. When a payment date falls on a federal holiday or weekend, the SSA pays on the business day before, as with Tuesday, November 10, 2026, before Veterans Day.
Are SSDI payment dates the same as retirement payment dates?
Yes. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) follows the same birthday-based Wednesday schedule, and SSDI recipients who started before May 1997 are paid on the 3rd.
When will the 2028 COLA be announced?
The SSA usually announces the next COLA in October, after the September inflation figures are released. The 2028 COLA is expected in October 2027.
