Social Security payment dates 2026: Next checks arrive on August 19 and 26; see who gets paid

Two more Social Security payment dates remain in August 2026. Beneficiaries born between Aug. 11 and 20 are scheduled to receive their payments on Wednesday, Aug. 19, while those born between Aug. 21 and 31 are due to be paid on Wednesday, Aug. 26.

Those born between Aug. 1 and 10 already received their payments on Aug. 12. For SSI recipients, no payment remains to arrive in August.

Why is there no SSI check in August

SSI payments are normally sent on the first day of each month. When that date falls on a weekend or federal holiday, the Social Security Administration moves the payment to the previous business day.

Because Aug. 1, 2026, fell on a Saturday, the August SSI payment was sent early, on Friday, July 31. The next SSI payment is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 1. This same scheduling rule will create another unusual situation later this year.

Social security retirement and SSDI dates

For beneficiaries who began receiving Social Security after May 1997, payment dates generally depend on their birth date.

The second Wednesday is for birthdays from the 1st through the 10th, the third Wednesday covers birthdays from the 11th through the 20th, and the fourth Wednesday covers birthdays from the 21st through the 31st.

In August, the remaining dates are:

• Aug. 19: Birthdays from 11th–20th
• Aug. 26: Birthdays from 21st–31st

How much are beneficiaries receiving?

The 2026 Social Security payments include a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) that took effect in January. According to the Social Security Administration's July 2026 figures, the average monthly benefit was $2,085.98 for retired workers and $1,635.27 for disabled workers. The average SSI payment was $736.54, compared with a federal maximum of $994 for an individual.

The maximum Social Security retirement benefit for someone retiring at full retirement age in 2026 is $4,152 per month, although relatively few beneficiaries receive that amount.

What to do if your payment is missing

If a payment does not arrive on its scheduled date, the SSA advises beneficiaries to wait three business days before reporting it. The delay may be caused by a bank or financial institution rather than the Social Security Administration.

For SSI recipients, however, an August payment should not be expected: the August benefit was already issued on July 31, and the next one is scheduled for Sept. 1.