(NEXSTAR) – It’s been a weird few months in terms of when Social Security benefits are paid out, and February and March will only continue the trend.
You will still receive your benefits for both months, but a specific benefit, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), will be disbursed earlier than usual. (The maximum monthly SSI benefit for eligible individuals in 2026 is $994, or $1,491 if they have an eligible spouse.)
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SSI payments are typically sent out on the first day of the month. That hasn’t happened since December, and won’t happen again until April.
That’s because, if the first day of the month falls on a holiday or weekend, payments are made on the weekday prior. January 1 is a holiday, meaning SSI recipients got their benefits on December 31.
Since February 1 falls on a Sunday, SSI payments are scheduled to be sent out on Friday, January 30.
Payments should also be unaffected in the event of a government shutdown.
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Because March 1 also falls on a Sunday this year, you’ll receive March’s SSI payment on Friday, Feb. 27. April starts on a Wednesday, meaning the payment schedule will return to normal.
All other Social Security benefits are scheduled to be paid as usual in February and March:
| Month | Payment | Date |
|---|---|---|
| February | SSI payment | Friday, Jan. 30 |
| Social Security (if you received benefits before May 1997, or if you also receive SSI) | Tuesday, Feb. 3 | |
| If your birth date is between the 1st and 10th | Wednesday, Feb. 11 | |
| If your birth date is between the 11th and 20th | Wednesday, Feb. 18 | |
| If your birth date is between the 21st and 31st | Wednesday, Feb. 25 | |
| March | SSI payment | Friday, Feb. 27 |
| Social Security (if you received benefits before May 1997, or if you also receive SSI) | Tuesday, March 3 | |
| If your birth date is between the 1st and 10th | Wednesday, March 11 | |
| If your birth date is between the 11th and 20th | Wednesday, March 18 | |
| If your birth date is between the 21st and 31st | Wednesday, March 25 |
Regardless of when Social Security payments are sent out, beneficiaries will receive all of their anticipated funds.
