Social Security payment schedule: October to December 2026
When is my Social Security check? For most people it depends on the day of the month you were born. In October 2026, retirement, survivors and disability (SSDI) benefits go out on Wednesday 14, 21 or 28 October. SSI is paid on 1 October, and November's SSI arrives early, on Friday 30 October. All dates below are from the Social Security Administration's official Schedule of Social Security Benefit Payments 2026.
Find your payment date
| Who | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|
| Born on the 1st to the 10th | Wed 14 Oct | Tue 10 Nov | Wed 9 Dec |
| Born on the 11th to the 20th | Wed 21 Oct | Wed 18 Nov | Wed 16 Dec |
| Born on the 21st to the 31st | Wed 28 Oct | Wed 25 Nov | Wed 23 Dec |
| Benefits started before May 1997, or you get both Social Security and SSI | Fri 2 Oct | Tue 3 Nov | Thu 3 Dec |
| Supplemental Security Income (SSI) | Thu 1 Oct | Fri 30 Oct | Tue 1 Dec |
The rule behind the table: payments go out on the second Wednesday of the month if you were born between the 1st and the 10th, the third Wednesday for the 11th to the 20th, and the fourth Wednesday for the 21st to the 31st. If you got Social Security before May 1997, or you get Social Security and SSI together, Social Security comes on the 3rd and SSI on the 1st. When that day falls on a weekend or a holiday, SSA's calendar moves the payment to the working day before.
Why some dates move
- 10 November, not 11 November: the second Wednesday in November is Veterans Day, a federal holiday. SSA's calendar shows that payment on Tuesday 10 November.
- 2 October: the 3rd is a Saturday, so the "3rd of the month" payment goes out on Friday 2 October.
- 30 October: 1 November is a Sunday, so November's SSI is paid on Friday 30 October.
- 31 December: 1 January is a holiday, so January 2027's SSI, and the January payment for people paid on the 3rd, go out on Thursday 31 December 2026.
"I got two SSI payments in October"
That is expected. The payment on 1 October is October's, and the one on 30 October is November's, paid early because 1 November is a Sunday. You will not get another SSI payment in November. The same happens in December: the payment on 31 December is January's.
If your payment does not arrive
SSA asks you to allow three more mailing days after the expected date before you contact Social Security. You can see your benefit details in your my Social Security account.
What about the 2027 raise (COLA)?
The cost-of-living adjustment for 2027 has not been announced yet. It is based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners (CPI-W), so it follows the Bureau of Labor Statistics' figures for September. For 2026 the COLA was 2.8%, and the higher SSI payments began on 31 December 2025, the date of January's SSI payment (SSA). Choosing a Medicare plan for 2027? See our page on Medicare open enrollment.
