Social Security Payment Schedule 2027: When You Get Paid
Social Security pays monthly on a Wednesday set by your date of birth. Here is the complete 2027 calendar, the separate SSI and pre-1997 schedule, and the four dates that shift.
Social Security retirement and disability benefits are paid once a month, on a Wednesday set by your date of birth. In 2027 that means January 13, 20, or 27 — and the same second, third, or fourth-Wednesday slot every month after that. Here is the full 2027 calendar, the separate schedule for SSI and pre-1997 beneficiaries, and the four dates that shift.
The rule: your birthday sets your payment day
Most beneficiaries are paid on a Wednesday based on the day of the month they were born:
- Born 1st–10th → the second Wednesday of each month
- Born 11th–20th → the third Wednesday
- Born 21st–31st → the fourth Wednesday
Your slot stays the same all year. Payments from January 2027 onward include the 3.6% COLA.
The full 2027 payment calendar
| Month | Born 1st–10th | Born 11th–20th | Born 21st–31st |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Jan 13 | Jan 20 | Jan 27 |
| February | Feb 10 | Feb 17 | Feb 24 |
| March | Mar 10 | Mar 17 | Mar 24 |
| April | Apr 14 | Apr 21 | Apr 28 |
| May | May 12 | May 19 | May 26 |
| June | Jun 9 | Jun 16 | Jun 23 |
| July | Jul 14 | Jul 21 | Jul 28 |
| August | Aug 11 | Aug 18 | Aug 25 |
| September | Sep 8 | Sep 15 | Sep 22 |
| October | Oct 13 | Oct 20 | Oct 27 |
| November | Nov 10 | Nov 17 | Nov 24 |
| December | Dec 8 | Dec 15 | Dec 22 |
SSI and the 3rd-of-the-month group
Two groups follow a different schedule. SSI is normally paid on the 1st. People who started benefits before May 1997, and anyone who receives both Social Security and SSI, are paid on the 3rd. When either date falls on a weekend or a federal holiday, the payment moves to the prior business day.
| Benefit month | SSI (normally the 1st) | Social Security (normally the 3rd) |
|---|---|---|
| January | Dec 31, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 |
| February | Feb 1 | Feb 3 |
| March | Mar 1 | Mar 3 |
| April | Apr 1 | Apr 2 |
| May | Apr 30 | May 3 |
| June | Jun 1 | Jun 3 |
| July | Jul 1 | Jul 2 |
| August | Jul 30 | Aug 3 |
| September | Sep 1 | Sep 3 |
| October | Oct 1 | Oct 1 |
| November | Nov 1 | Nov 3 |
| December | Dec 1 | Dec 3 |
The shifted dates to plan around
Four quirks in the 2027 calendar are worth knowing about in advance:
- January's payments actually arrive in 2026. January 1 is a Friday holiday and January 3 is a Sunday, so both the SSI and the 3rd-of-the-month payments land on Thursday, December 31, 2026.
- Two SSI payments in April, none in May. May 1 is a Saturday, so the May payment arrives Friday, April 30.
- Two SSI payments in July, none in August. August 1 is a Sunday, so the August payment arrives Friday, July 30.
- October doubles up. October 3 is a Sunday, so the 3rd-of-the-month payment moves to Friday, October 1, the same day SSI goes out.
A month with two SSI deposits is not a bonus. It is next month's payment arriving early, and the month after will have none.
Find your own dates fast
Rather than counting Wednesdays, use our COLA tracker and payment-date tool — enter the day you were born and it lists your upcoming payment dates. Looking for last year instead? See the 2026 payment schedule.
If a payment is late
With direct deposit, money normally arrives on the scheduled day. SSA asks you to wait three mailing days before reporting a payment as missing. Direct deposit plus a my Social Security account is the easiest way to track deposits. To see what your 2027 amount will be, run it through our benefits calculator.
This article is general educational information, not financial advice. Payment dates follow the Social Security Administration's published schedule and the federal holiday calendar; confirm your own dates at ssa.gov. SocialSecurityNews.com is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration.
Frequently asked questions
- When will I get my Social Security payment in 2027?
- It depends on your birth date. Born on the 1st-10th, you are paid the second Wednesday of each month (January 13, February 10, and so on). Born 11th-20th, it is the third Wednesday (January 20). Born 21st-31st, the fourth Wednesday (January 27). Your slot stays the same all year.
- When is the January 2027 payment?
- Wednesday-schedule beneficiaries are paid January 13, 20, or 27 depending on birth date. But if you receive SSI, or started benefits before May 1997, your January payment arrives early, on Thursday, December 31, 2026, because January 1 is a holiday and January 3 is a Sunday.
- Why is there no SSI payment in May or August 2027?
- There is, but it arrives at the end of the previous month. May 1 is a Saturday, so the May payment goes out Friday, April 30. August 1 is a Sunday, so the August payment goes out Friday, July 30. Two deposits in one month is next month's payment arriving early, not a bonus.
- Who is paid on the 3rd of the month instead of a Wednesday?
- Two groups: people who started receiving benefits before May 1997, and anyone who receives both Social Security and SSI. If the 3rd falls on a weekend or federal holiday, the payment moves to the prior business day.
- Do 2027 payments include the COLA increase?
- Yes. The 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment applies from January 2027 payments onward for retirement, disability, and survivor benefits. For SSI the increase shows up in the payment dated December 31, 2026.
Reference: SocialSecurityNews