When will your Social Security payment arrive in February 2026? See the schedule

view original post

Most people who receive Social Security retirement benefits will see their monthly payments in February 2026 as usual — with checks and direct deposits distributed according to the Social Security Administration’s standard schedule.

However, some confusion has surfaced for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients with how the monthly funds are distributed when the scheduled payment day lands on a weekend. While SSI and Social Security are separate programs, about half of SSI recipients also receive Social Security, which is why the distinction matters.

Social Security payment dates for February 2026

The Social Security Administration published the 2026 schedule for benefit payments:

If you receive regular Social Security benefits (not SSI), your payment will arrive on one of the following dates, based on your birthdate and when you first began collecting benefits:

• Tuesday, Feb. 3 – People who began receiving benefits before May 1997

• Wednesday, Feb. 11 – Birthdates between the 1st and 10th

• Wednesday, Feb. 18 – Birthdates between the 11th and 20th

• Wednesday, Feb. 25 – Birthdates between the 21st and 31st

What is SSI?

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) provides financial support to individuals who are:

• Age 65 or older.

• Have a qualifying disability, and who also meet strict income and asset requirements.

As of 2025, adults must generally earn less than $2,019/month in wages to qualify. Many SSI recipients also receive Social Security benefits, but the two programs are funded separately.

SSI payment dates in 2026

The remaining SSI payment dates for 2026 are as follows:

• Friday, Feb. 27 – March payment

• Wednesday, April 1 – April payment

• Friday, May 1 – May payment

• Monday, June 1 – June payment

• Wednesday, July 1 – July payment

• Friday, July 31 – August payment

• Tuesday, Sept. 1 – September payment

• Thursday, Oct. 1 – October payment

• Friday, Oct. 30 – November payment

• Tuesday, Dec. 1 – December payment

• Thursday, Dec. 31 – January 2027 payment

So will I receive a SSI payment in February 2026?

Typically, the monthly SSI payment is deposited on the first of the month. But in February, the first lands on a weekend – on Sunday, Feb. 1. According to standard SSA policy: when the first falls on a weekend or federal holiday, SSI payments are made on the preceding business day.

So the February payment was issued on Friday, Jan. 30.

That said, the same issue will occur at the end of February for the March payment since the first again lands on a Sunday. In turn, the March payment will be issued on Friday, Feb. 27.

Includes reporting by the USA Today network

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: When will your Social Security payment arrive in February 2026? See the schedule